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

Micronutrient deficiencies in infants significantly influence gut microbiota development and infection susceptibility, with effects varying by developmental and environmental factors.

• Why it matters: Understanding how micronutrients affect the infant gut microbiota is crucial because deficiencies are common and can increase vulnerability to infections, especially in high-burden settings.
• What they did: The review synthesizes evidence from human and experimental studies on micronutrient-microbiota interactions, focusing on microbial competition, metabolism, barrier integrity, and mucosal immunity across different contexts.
• The result: Findings suggest that micronutrients modulate microbial ecosystems and immune defenses, shaping infection risk during infancy, which could inform targeted nutritional interventions to improve health outcomes.