Exploring the role of the gut microbiome in pediatric gastrointestinal and neurological health

Jan 8, 2026Translational pediatrics

The gut microbiome's role in children's digestive and brain health

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Abstract

The gut microbiome is central to pediatric health and development, influencing GI and neurological outcomes.

Malnutrition may cause dysbiosis, which interferes with nutrient absorption and enhances intestinal inflammation.
Dysbiosis is linked to the severity of pediatric disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Altered production of microbial metabolites, impaired gut barrier integrity, and disrupted immune signaling are associated with gut dysbiosis-related diseases.
Therapeutic solutions to restore microbial balance include targeted probiotic and prebiotic supplementation, dietary interventions, and precision nutrition.
Understanding the interactions between the gut microbiome, nutrition, and the gut-brain axis could lead to new treatments for pediatric diseases caused by microbial imbalances.

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The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is now understood to be a central regulator of pediatric health and development. This review discusses its centrality in GI and neurological outcomes, with a particular focus on the devastating effects of malnutrition. It also discusses how microbial homeostasis (dysbiosis), especially that induced by protein-energy and micronutrient deficiencies, interferes with nutrient absorption, enhances intestinal inflammation, and alters gut-brain communication. Dysbiosis is mechanistically connected to the pathogenesis and severity of other pediatric disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The most important pathways of gut dysbiosis-related disease mechanisms. include the altered production of microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), impaired gut barrier integrity ("leaky gut"), and disrupted immune and neuroendocrine signaling. To address these issues, this article outlines potential therapeutic solutions that seek to restore microbial balance. Targeted probiotic and prebiotic supplementation, dietary interventions, and the emerging field of precision nutrition, which enables interventions to be tailored based on a child's individual microbiome and genetic makeup, are also mentioned as possible ways to improve the GI and neurological health of malnourished children. Learning how these interactions between the gut microbiome, nutrition, and the gut-brain axis (GBA). Work could revolutionize the development of new treatments for preventing and treating pediatric diseases caused by microbial imbalances.

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Exploring the role of the gut microbiome in pediatric gastrointestinal and neurological health

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