Environmental Influences on the Human Microbiome and Implications for Noncommunicable Disease

The human microbiome contributes metabolic functions, protects against pathogens, educates the immune system, and through these basic functions, directly or indirectly, affects most of our physiologic functions. Here, we consider the human microbiome and its relationship to several major noncommunic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of public health 2021-04, Vol.42 (1), p.277-292
Main Authors: Ahn, Jiyoung, Hayes, Richard B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
human microbiome
interindividual variability
macroenvironment
microenvironment
noncommunicable diseases
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Summary:The human microbiome contributes metabolic functions, protects against pathogens, educates the immune system, and through these basic functions, directly or indirectly, affects most of our physiologic functions. Here, we consider the human microbiome and its relationship to several major noncommunicable human conditions, including orodigestive tract cancers, neurologic diseases, diabetes, and obesity. We also highlight the scope of contextual macroenvironmental factors (toxicological and chemical environment, built environment, and socioeconomic environment) and individual microenvironmental factors (smoking, alcohol, and diet) that may push the microbiota toward less healthy or more healthy conditions, influencing the development of these diseases. Last, we highlight current uncertainties and challenges in the study of environmental influences on the human microbiome and implications for understanding noncommunicable disease, suggesting a research agenda to strengthen the scientific evidence base.
ISSN:0163-7525
1545-2093
DOI:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-012420-105020