Gut Talk Series: The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Nutrition

The connection between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract has been extensively studied, but the existence of a bidirectional microbiota-gut-brain axis has only received attention more recently. The individual microorganisms that live in our body, the microbiota, influence considerably the host brain and behavior. Variations in microbiota composition have been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, stress and anxiety. Nutrition, including the use of certain probiotic strains as well as bioactive components such as Human milk oligosaccharides have been shown to play a role in regulating brain health and functions through modulation of the gut microbiota.