Natural trace elements and vitamins are considered essential micronutrients for mammalian health. They are required for growth, bone development and enzyme activity. As enzymatic cofactors, those micronutrients are involved in many physiological processes such as the metabolism of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. For decades, there has also been growing evidence indicating a crucial role of those nutrients in antioxidant and immune systems functions. Furthermore, some of those micronutrients regulate the permeability of intestinal barriers. Although a substantial amount of the micronutrients is acquired from various dietary sources, deficiencies are not uncommon, and it is estimated that micronutrient deficiencies affect about two billion people worldwide. The majority of gut-resident microbes are involved in the metabolism of trace elements and vitamins, and intestinal microbiota plays critical roles in the absorption and utilization of those micronutrients and their effects on humans and animals.
There is growing evidence that dysregulation of the "microbiota-micronutrient frontier" is related to various disorders and diseases. Therefore, a detailed understanding of this relationship between gut microbiota and micronutrients is necessary to rationalize dietary trace elements and vitamin interventions targeted to the gut microbiota in the future.
This Research Topic focuses on all aspects of the research on the interaction between biological trace elements, vitamins and microbiota, and it will also include research focus on the following elements:
• Mechanistic insights into trace elements and vitamins on microbiota
• Multi-omics analysis to study the interaction between micronutrients and microbiota
• Effects of micronutrients on host health via the regulation of gut microbiota
• Novel strategies to improve micronutrient deficiencies and their related gut microbiota dysbiosis
Natural trace elements and vitamins are considered essential micronutrients for mammalian health. They are required for growth, bone development and enzyme activity. As enzymatic cofactors, those micronutrients are involved in many physiological processes such as the metabolism of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. For decades, there has also been growing evidence indicating a crucial role of those nutrients in antioxidant and immune systems functions. Furthermore, some of those micronutrients regulate the permeability of intestinal barriers. Although a substantial amount of the micronutrients is acquired from various dietary sources, deficiencies are not uncommon, and it is estimated that micronutrient deficiencies affect about two billion people worldwide. The majority of gut-resident microbes are involved in the metabolism of trace elements and vitamins, and intestinal microbiota plays critical roles in the absorption and utilization of those micronutrients and their effects on humans and animals.
There is growing evidence that dysregulation of the "microbiota-micronutrient frontier" is related to various disorders and diseases. Therefore, a detailed understanding of this relationship between gut microbiota and micronutrients is necessary to rationalize dietary trace elements and vitamin interventions targeted to the gut microbiota in the future.
This Research Topic focuses on all aspects of the research on the interaction between biological trace elements, vitamins and microbiota, and it will also include research focus on the following elements:
• Mechanistic insights into trace elements and vitamins on microbiota
• Multi-omics analysis to study the interaction between micronutrients and microbiota
• Effects of micronutrients on host health via the regulation of gut microbiota
• Novel strategies to improve micronutrient deficiencies and their related gut microbiota dysbiosis
