What is it about?
This paper aims to summarize the available evidence on the therapeutic potential of gut microbiota and its metabolite SCFAs in neonatal NEC.
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Why is it important?
Gut microbial-derived SCFA metabolites can be regarded as having health benefits in neonatal NEC. Preterm infants with NEC who are fed breastmilk/formula and/or supplemented with probiotics/prebiotics are postulated to have higher SCFA levels and abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria, which may perform a significant role in modulating the inflammatory immune responses of immature intestinal cells.
Perspectives
Breastmilk and feeding with probiotic/prebiotic formula increase SCFA production and the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria in preterm infants. However, how these feeding types epigenetically determine NEC phenotype by exerting anti-inflammatory effects are still being unraveled. Further studies are needed to examine whether breastmilk or feeding with probiotic/prebiotic formula could increase SCFA levels and influence the growth of SCFA-producing bacteria and the protective effects thereof on reducing NEC-related inflammatory markers through the epigenetic mechanisms.
Dr Naser Alsharairi
Griffith University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Therapeutic Potential of Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolite Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Life, February 2023, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/life13020561.
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