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Article

Host-Microbial Gut Interactions and Mushroom Nutrition

1Faculty of Pharmacy, Coimbra University, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal

2The Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Universidade Pedagógica, Rua João Carlos Raposo Beirão 135, Maputo, Moçambique

3National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Av 24 Julho, Maputo, Mozambique

4Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon University, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal


Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2018, Vol. 6 No. 9, 576-583
DOI: 10.12691/jfnr-6-9-6
Copyright © 2018 Science and Education Publishing

Cite this paper:
Victoria Bell, Jorge Ferrão, Eusébio Chaquisse, Tito Fernandes. Host-Microbial Gut Interactions and Mushroom Nutrition. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2018; 6(9):576-583. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-6-9-6.

Correspondence to: Tito  Fernandes, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon University, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal. Email: profcattitofernandes@gmail.com

Abstract

There is a tremendous complexity of the human gut microbiota in both health and disease states and a healthy microbiota consists of an inter-dependent network of microbes rather than a particular bacterial genera. The microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract is a symbiotic partner of the host as it is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and multiple components of the host immune system. Numerous host factors influence the composition of the microbiota early in life including diet, hygiene, environmental contacts, antibiotic use, and breastfeeding. Although the content of any diet can effect bacterial composition, it cannot be suggested that diet alone is responsible for the diversity of the microbiota or its variation among individuals. The intestinal physical-chemical barrier forms part of the intestinal immune system and plays a critical role in determining the composition of the microbiota. There are multiple recognised clinical uses of mushrooms due to their content in β-glucans, important antioxidant and cytoprotective enzymes, secondary metabolites and still other unknown factors. Mushroom β-glucans have been proposed to act as "biological response modifiers" based on their effects on the immune system, enhancing the body's own use of macrophages and T-lymphocytes, rather than directly attacking any tumours, controlling oxidative stress and inflammation.

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