Micronutrients, the gut microbiota, and infection susceptibility in infants.

Micronutrient deficiencies in infancy are linked to altered gut microbiota and increased infection susceptibility, especially in high-infection burden settings.

• Why it matters: Understanding how micronutrients influence the developing gut microbiota is crucial because this ecosystem affects infection risk during infancy, a vulnerable period.
• What they did: The review synthesizes evidence from human and experimental studies on micronutrient regulation of microbial competition, metabolism, barrier integrity, and mucosal immunity, considering developmental and environmental factors.
• The result: Findings suggest micronutrient-microbiota interactions may impact susceptibility to enteric and invasive bacterial infections, highlighting potential targets for nutritional interventions to improve infant health.