Nicole Roy,1,2,3 Young W,1 Anderson RC,1 Dalziel JE1 and Bassett SA1
1 Food Nutrition & Health Team, Food & Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North; 2 Riddet Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North; 3 Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, .
The human gastro-intestinal tract has the dual role of allowing the absorption of nutrients while also acting as a barrier to prevent pathogens and toxins from entering the body and potentially causing disease. In the immature intestine of infants the mucosal barrier is underdeveloped and large quantities of macromolecules are transported across the epithelium into systematic circulation. It is important that the various components of the intestine (microbiota, epithelial and immune system) mature appropriately because barrier dysfunction in adults is a critical factor in the predisposition to some intestinal inflammatory diseases, and is associated with auto-immune diseases in other parts of the body. Following weaning, bacterial communities in the intestinal tract undergo dramatic shifts in composition. These compositional and associated biochemical changes may not only have long-lasting impacts on the intestinal mucosa but also affect other tissues and organs in the body. Dietary intervention in early life to ensure that the intestinal tract matures appropriately could be an opportunity to impart health benefits that are sustained in later life. In adults, stress is known to compromise intestinal function while in the aged, intestinal function progressively deteriorates; e.g. epithelial barrier degenerates, adverse changes in bacterial populations, and loss of enteric neurons and decreased motility; all of which are risk factors for disease development. These population segments also offer opportunities for dietary intervention to improve health outcomes. Ingredients or foods that modulate the interactions between microbes and intestinal cells to create benefits beyond simple nutrition and a healthy diet could promote improved general health and well-being across life stages.