Probiotics as Curators of a Healthy Gut Microbiota: Delivering the Solution

In recent years, the influence of the gut microbiota on many aspects of human health has become clear. Accumulating evidence suggests that perturbations of the gut microbiota have consequences that extend beyond the gastrointestinal tract and have been associated with the development of several immunological, metabolic, and mental disorders. Consequently, the use of probiotics to modulate the gut microbiota has gained significant interest. In this review we describe a typical healthy gut microbiota composition in infants and adults and the factors known to cause disturbances. Strategies to restore the gut microbiota using probiotics are discussed, with examples of food- and nonfood-based probiotic carriers. The potential of probiotic therapy for various conditions is evident; however, further research is necessary to develop successful probiotic treatments focused on modulating the gut microbiota to maintain health or alleviate disease.