Intestinal flora homeostasis

Intestinal flora homeostasis refers to the optimal balance and functional diversity of microbial populations residing in the gastrointestinal tract, which is pivotal for digestion, nutrient absorption, metabolism, immune system development, and defense against pathogens. This equilibrium is influenced by genetics, diet, drugs, and environment. Disruption (dysbiosis) can lead to various diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, infections, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The microbiota also play a key role in drug metabolism, with some drugs requiring microbial transformation to become active or inactive. Maintenance of homeostasis is thus central to health, and strategies to restore or support it include microbiota-targeted therapies (prebiotics, probiotics, microbiota-directed drugs).

Other names

gut microbiota homeostasismicrobiome homeostasisintestinal microbiota balance

Direct modulation of microbial composition (antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics); microbial biotransformation of drugs (activation/inactivation via microbial metabolism); modulation of host immune and metabolic responses via microbial metabolites and signaling.