Purpose of review

The microbial-mammalian symbiosis plays a critical role in metabolic health. Microbial metabolites emerge as key messengers in the complex communication between the gut microbiota and their host. These chemical signals are mainly derived from nutritional precursors, which in turn are also able to modify gut microbiota population. Recent advances in the characterization of the gut microbiome and the mechanisms involved in this symbiosis allow the development of nutritional interventions. This review covers the latest findings on the microbial-mammalian metabolic axis as a critical symbiotic relationship particularly relevant to clinical nutrition.

Recent findings

The modulation of host metabolism by metabolites derived from the gut microbiota highlights the importance of gut microbiota in disease prevention and causation. The composition of microbial populations in our gut ecosystem is a critical pathophysiological factor, mainly regulated by diet, but also by the host's characteristics (e.g. genetics, circadian clock, immune system, age). Tailored interventions, including dietary changes, the use of antibiotics, prebiotic and probiotic supplementation and faecal transplantation are promising strategies to manipulate microbial ecology.

Summary

The microbiome is now considered as an easily reachable target to prevent and treat related diseases. Recent findings in both mechanisms of its interactions with host metabolism and in strategies to modify gut microbiota will allow us to develop more effective treatments especially in metabolic diseases.