Modulation of the gut microbiota in infants at high risk for asthma by Lactobacillus supplementation
By Rachele Invernizzi
The human gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that exert a marked influence on the host in homeostasis and disease. Research within the microbiome field is advancing at a rapid pace; recent work has shown that the composition and function of the gut microbiota are symbiotically linked with host health, and altered in several immune-mediated disorders, including asthma. With the intention of modulating the intestinal microbiota, early probiotic administration has been used for the prevention of allergic diseases in infants, with variable success.
Durack and colleagues (1) wanted to explore the maturation of gut microbiota over the first year of life in infants at high risk for asthma, and whether it was modifiable by early-life Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) supplementation.