The Role of Microbiota and Dietary Metabolites on Gut Homeostasis

This thesis examines how diets can change the makeup of the bacteria in our gut. These bacteria can then go on to produce products such as short chain fatty acids which can interact improve our body’s immune system. This improved immune function can help fight serious gut infections or prevent the development of type one diabetes. The protection from type one diabetes was also found to be able to pass from mother to child improving the outcomes for subsequent generations. This opens pathways for diet to be used as a treatment in many different conditions.