The Development of the Gut Microbiota in Childhood and Its Distortion by Lifestyle Changes

The gut microbiota is established in the newborn period and plays a pivotal role in the development of the mucosal tissue, immune maturation, and host metabolism. Distortions in the assembly and maturation of the microbiota during this critical time-window can therefore have profound effects on future health and the susceptibility to non-communicable diseases. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the ecological processes involved in the establishment of the indigenous microbial communities during infancy and childhood. Moreover, we summarize the current knowledge on the disruptive effects of lifestyle changes on gut microbiota assembly and maturation. Finally, we highlight important areas for further research in order to identify approaches to revert the deprivation of our microbiota