Abstract
The aim of this study was to highlight the important role of gut and microbiota for human health and disease. Investigations realized over last decades considerably altered the common perception about the role of large gut and microbiota in both human health and disease.
Large gut is not only organ for the storage and excretion of waste matter and where absorption of water and other nutrients is taking place. This organ together with microbiota is metabolically active and serves as substantial defensive mechanism.
Alteration of gut mucosa and/or deviation in microbiota composition may arise anytime during the whole life and may be relate to the manifestation of different disorders (allergy, autoimmune diseases, and obesity). Therefore large attention is nowadays given to the options positively modulate the microbiota in attempt to prevent the onset of pathological condition or to positively influence existing disorders by supplementation of probiotics.
Understanding how the human gut microbiota and host are affected by probiotic bacterial strains still requires carefully controlled laboratory and clinical studies. Use of probiotics in immunocompromised patients could not only bring positive effect, but on the other hand also could generate serious health risks.