The influence of diet and probiotics on the intestinal microbiome Essay

The influence of diet and probiotics on the intestinal microbiome - Essay Example These microbiota are influenced by various external factors and internal factors. Some of the external factors which are widely studied and are interesting for human health are diet and probiotics. In this essay, influenceof diet and probiotics onintentinal microbiota will be discussed. The intestinal microbiota play a major role in the various nutritional, immunological, physiological and metabolic processes of the human body. Certain dietary polysaccharides are indigestible and intestinal microbiota extract energy from these resistant starches and fibers. Such metabolic activities cause release of various vitamins like vitamin K, folic acid and B12, short chain fatty acids and various aminoacids which are not produced in the human body. The microbiota also participate in various pathogenic defence mechanisms like resistance of colonisation and production of various compounds with antimicrobial properties. The microbiota are also involved in the maturation, development and maintenance of various sensory and motor functions of the gastrointestinal tract, the barrier system of the intestine and also the immune system of the intestinal mucosa (Gerritsen et al, 2011). According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organi zation (cited in Hemarajata and Versalovic, 2013), probiotics are defined as ‘living microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits on the host.’ The most commonly used probiotics are Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus. Other probiotics in market include certain species of enterococcus, streptococcus, propionibacterium and bacillus. Yeast like Saccharomyces are also used as probiotics. The probiotic organisms interact with the intestinal microbia either directly or through enzymatic action. They interact directly with the epithelial and mucosal layer of the intestine and thereby influence the functions of the intestinal