First Foods and Gut Microbes
Martin F. Laursen1, Martin I. Bahl1, Kim F. Michaelsen2 and Tine R. Licht1
1National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Søborg, Denmark, 2Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports,
University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
The establishment of the human gut microbiota in early life has been associated with
later health and disease. During the 1st months after birth, the microbial composition in
the gut is known to be affected by the mode of delivery, use of antibiotics, geographical
location and type of feeding (breast/formula). Consequently, the neonatal period and
early infancy has attracted much attention. However, after this first period the gut
microbial composition continues to develop until the age of 3 years, and these 1st
years have been designated “a window of opportunity” for microbial modulation.
Frontiers in Microbiology DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00356