Human Gut Microbiota Plasticity throughout the Life Course

Kerstin Thriene and Karin B. Michels ()
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Kerstin Thriene: Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Karin B. Michels: Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: The role of the gut microbiota in human health and disease has garnered heightened attention over the past decade. A thorough understanding of microbial variation over the life course and possible ways to influence and optimize the microbial pattern is essential to capitalize on the microbiota’s potential to influence human health. Here, we review our current understanding of the concept of plasticity of the human gut microbiota throughout the life course. Characterization of the plasticity of the microbiota has emerged through recent research and suggests that the plasticity in the microbiota signature is largest at birth when the microbial colonization of the gut is initiated and mode of birth imprints its mark, then decreases postnatally continuously and becomes less malleable and largely stabilized with advancing age. This continuing loss of plasticity has important implication for the impact of the exposome on the microbiota and health throughout the life course and the identification of susceptible ‘windows of opportunity’ and methods for interventions.

Keywords: human gut microbiota; plasticity; exposome; window of opportunity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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