Does Medical Nutrition Therapy Affect Gut Microbiota in Childhood Chronic Diseases?

Abstract

A healthy gut microbiota benefits the host in many respects, including protection from pathogens and maturation of immune responses. The emerging evidence shows that intestinal microbiota is associated with the development of childhood diseases such as allergic diseases, celiac, type 1 diabetes and obesity. Nutrition is considered to be the main environmental factor affecting the diversity and functionality of the gut microbiota. Diet has been shown to cause significant changes in the intestinal microbiota in a short time. In this respect, it is thought that medical nutritional therapy in childhood chronic diseases will affect the intestinal microbiota composition. Understanding the relationship and interactions between nutritional therapies and intestinal microbiota is critical to disease management. In this review, the effects of medical nutritional therapies on intestinal microbiota in some childhood chronic diseases are examined.