Human microbiota modulation by functional food consumption

The main activities of PhD thesis project deal with the relationship between microbiota and functional food. The administration of food with prebiotics and/or probiotics can systematically alter the gene expression pattern (transcriptomics) and metabolism (metabolomics) of many host organs, as well as modulate the microbiota itself. in particular dietary supplements with probiotic and prebiotic addition. First of all, the relationship between synbiotic administration to nephropathic (Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD) subjects and variation of gut microbiota composition was evaluated. Secondly, the effects of probiotic yeast (Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum) assumption on composition and metabolism of microbiota in healthy subjects were defined. These effects were evaluated to consider their addition to food matrices and assess the effect of a functional food on the microbiota.