Castañeda GC

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 94-110
PDF size: 202.45 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: the intestinal microbiota is involved in homeostasis and intestinal immunity events which are crucial to human health. An overview is provided of its interactions with the intestinal ecosystem, its participation in various conditions, and the value of probiotics and prebiotics.
Objective: evaluate the information contained in the medical literature published in the past decades about the main features of the intestinal microbiota, its relationship to immunity, and the beneficial therapeutic action of probiotics and prebiotics in various intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders.
Methods: a search was conducted in the databases PubMed, SciELO, Redalyc and Latindex for publications about the intestinal microbiota, systematic reviews about probiotics, and related books.
Results: examination was carried out of the characteristics of colonization processes, development, functions and composition of the intestinal microbiota, as well as its immunity and relationship to the liver. Updating was also performed about the principles underlying the therapy with probiotics and prebiotics, and their various indications for digestive diseases.
Final conclusions: a description is provided of the role of the intestinal microbiota and its relationship to the intestinal ecosystem, the mechanisms involved and the consequent development of its immunity, pointing out the role of breastfeeding for an adequate process of implantation of the microbiota. An analysis is made of the use of probiotics and prebiotics, and their efficacy for various digestive diseases.