Composition and functions of intestinal bacterial flora

Composición y funciones de la flora bacteriana intestinal

Gastrointestinal disorders are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They involve chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and infectious and functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment has been difficult due to the ambiguity and multiple theories that are involved in their etiology. Psychological and social elements, changes in gastrointestinal motility, immunologic and genetic factors and recently, alterations of the intestinal flora, have been related. This bacterial microflora is a complex and forgotten topic with an important contribution not only to dietary substrate degradation and absorption processes but also fulfilling immunologic and protection functions in every organism. Knowing its composition, distribution and its multiple actions in maintaining proper balance of the gastrointestinal ecosystem is essential to understanding its role in preventing and treating inflammatory and gastrointestinal motility disorders.

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