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ABSTRACT
Introduction: The human microbiome plays a critical role in human health, having metabolic, protective, and trophic functions, depending upon its’ exact composition. This composition is affected by a number of factors, including the genetic background of the individual, early life factors (including method of birth, length of breastfeeding) and nature of the diet and other environmental exposures (including cigarette smoking) and general life habits. It plays a key role in the control of inflammation, and in turn, its’ composition is significantly influenced by inflammation.
Areas covered: We consider metabolic, protective, and trophic functions of the microbiome and influences through the lifespan from post-partum effects, to diet later in life in healthy older adults, the effects of aging on both its’ composition, and influence on health and potential therapeutic targets that may have anti-inflammatory effects.
Expert commentary: The future will see the growth of more effective therapies targeting the microbiome particularly with respect to the use of specific nutrients and diets personalized to the individual.
Acknowledgments
We wish to thank Virginia Parslow the medical illustrator who created .
Declarations of Interest
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organisation or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
Reviewer disclosures
Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose
Notes
1. The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to retain essentially the same function, structure, identity, and feedbacks [Citation175,Citation176].