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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294357

Title: The intestinal microbiome, probiotics and prebiotics in neurogastroenterology

Author
item SAULNIER, DELPHINE - Nizo
item RINGEL, YEHUDA - University Of North Carolina
item HEYMAN, MELVIN - University Of California
item FOSTER, JANE - McMaster University
item BERCIK, PREMYSL - McMaster University
item SHULMAN, ROBERT - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item VERSALOVIC, JAMES - Baylor College Of Medicine
item VERDU, ELENA - McMaster University
item DINAN, TEDG - University College Cork
item HECHT, GAIL - University Of Illinois
item GUARNER, FRANCISCO - Hospital Vall D’Hebron

Submitted to: Gut Microbes
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2012
Publication Date: 1/1/2013
Citation: Saulnier, D.M., Ringel, Y., Heyman, M.B., Foster, J.A., Bercik, P., Shulman, R.J., Versalovic, J., Verdu, E.F., Dinan, T.G., Hecht, G., Guarner, F. 2013. The intestinal microbiome, probiotics and prebiotics in neurogastroenterology. Gut Microbes. 4(1):17-27.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The brain-gut axis allows bidirectional communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS), linking emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. Recent experimental work suggests that the gut microbiota have an impact on the brain-gut axis. A group of experts convened by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) discussed the role of gut bacteria on brain functions and the implications for probiotic and prebiotic science. The experts reviewed and discussed current available data on the role of gut microbiota on epithelial cell function, gastrointestinal motility, visceral sensitivity, perception, and behavior. Data, mostly gathered from animal studies, suggest interactions of gut microbiota not only with the enteric nervous system but also with the central nervous system via neural, neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, and humoral links. Microbial colonization impacts mammalian brain development in early life and subsequent adult behavior. These findings provide novel insights for improved understanding of the potential role of gut microbial communities on psychological disorders, most particularly in the field of psychological comorbidities associated with functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and should present a new opportunity for interventions with pro- and prebiotics.