Journal
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
Volume 6, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00197
Keywords
human milk; microbiota; human milk oligosaccharides; immune development; asthma; pediatrics; probiotic; prebiotic
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Funding
- Canadian Lung Association Emerging Research Leaders Initiative
- Canadian Respiratory Research Network
- Allergy, Genes and Environment Network of Centers of Excellence (AllerGen NCE)
- Research Manitoba
- Research Manitoba Doctoral Studentship
- Canada Research Chair in the Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease
- Heart and Stroke Foundation
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The incidence of pediatric asthma has increased substantially in recent decades, reaching a worldwide prevalence of 14%. This rapid increase may be attributed to the loss of Old Friend microbes from the human microbiota resulting in a less diverse and dysbiotic gut microbiota, which fails to optimally stimulate immune development during infancy. This hypothesis is supported by observations that the gut microbiota is different in infants who develop asthma later in life compared to those who remain healthy. Thus, early life exposures that influence gut microbiota play a crucial role in asthma development. Breastfeeding is one such exposure; it is generally considered protective against pediatric asthma, although conflicting results have been reported, potentially due to variations in milk composition between individuals and across populations. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and milk microbiota are two major milk components that influence the infant gut microbiota and hence, development of the immune system. Among their many immunomodulatory functions, HMOs exert a selective pressure within the infant gut microbial niche, preferentially promoting the proliferation of specific bacteria including Bifidobacteria. Milk is also a source of viable bacteria originating from the maternal gut and infant oral cavity. As such, breastmilk has prebiotic and probiotic properties that can modulate two of the main forces controlling the gut microbial community assembly, i.e., dispersal and selection. Here, we review the latest evidence, mechanisms and hypotheses for the synergistic and/or additive effects of milk microbiota and HMOs in protecting against pediatric asthma.
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