Alžbeta Tóhátyová, Milan Kuchta, Ingrid Schusterová, Denisa Strömplová, Eva Joppová
The gastrointestinal tract of a normal fetus has been considered to be sterile and that the initial bacterial colonization of the newborn GIT occurs only after the baby transits through the birth canal. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the contact of the fetus with the maternal GIT microbiota may start in utero. Gut microbiota seems to additionally contribute to the differences in body weight, fat distribution, insulin sensitivity and lipid- and glucose-metabolism. The predictive value of gut bacterial composition on the development of obesity was demonstrated in small children, obese adolescents and pregnant women. Influencing the gut microbiota by probiotics and bioactive substances may enable for more effective the treatment or prevention of many disease.