The gut microbiota: stable bioreactor of variable composition?

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host health, providing energy and vitamins from food undigested by the gut enzymes of the host. Bacterial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are essentially metabolized by the gut mucosa. The importance to metabolic health of gut microbiota composition versus function is discussed. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host health, providing energy and vitamins from food undigested by the gut enzymes of the host. Bacterial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are essentially metabolized by the gut mucosa. The importance to metabolic health of gut microbiota composition versus function is discussed.