Development of Gut Microbiota in Childhood: Focusing on the effects of mode of delivery and nutrition in neonatal period

Abstract

The gut microbiota resides in the human gastrointestinal tract, maintaining a certain homeostatic balance. Recent advancements in next-generation sequencing have accelerated our understanding of the human gut microbiota, which is established after birth (or in utero) and starts to resemble the microbiota of an adult by the age of three years. Various factors affect its composition, and imbalances thereof have been associated with an increased risk of disease during both childhood and adulthood. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the establishment of the gut microbiota during childhood is critical for human health promotion. However, due to the numerous, complex factors affecting the gut microbiome, the exact etiology remains unknown. Herein, we discuss the impact of mode of delivery and feeding type on neonate gut microbiota.