Review uncovers gut microbiota colonization across developmental stages in infants, highlighting maternal, delivery, and nutritional influences on metabolic health.
Key Points
Early colonization begins prenatally within the mother-placenta-fetus system, where maternal gut microbiota shifts throughout pregnancy to guide the incubation of fetal microbes.
Review of ontogenetic stages indicates the presence of a distinct meconium microbiome, while delivery mode and exclusive breastfeeding direct Bifidobacterium colonization.
Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides metabolize breast milk oligosaccharides into short-chain fatty acids, supporting targeted probiotic therapy to optimize infant metabolic development.