ABSTRACT
Recent studies on health and dietary demonstrate a fundamental and systemic role of the composition of the gut microbiota on the overall good functioning of the human organism. The composition of the gut microbiota is greatly affected by several factors such as lifestyle, diet, genetic, and environmental factors, among others. The relationship between the composition and role of the gut microbiota on chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory bowel diseases, is becoming increasingly evident. Alterations in the gut microbiota promote an increase in gut inflammation, interfere with the production of metabolites, and increase the gut permeability to antigens and toxic substances, factors related to the onset and increase in the effects of NCDs. Studies with different approaches have demonstrated that diet is a determining factor in the gut colonization, and qualitative and quantitative changes in the intake of food components and can change the composition of the gut microbiota. Probiotics (living and viable microorganisms), prebiotics (substrates that induce the growth of probiotics), paraprobiotics (inactive probiotic cells), and posbiotics (metabolites produced by probiotics) are pointed as ways to maintain and/or improve the gut microbiota, providing better health conditions to humans and other animals as well.
