Role of micronutrients in shaping infant gut microbiota, and infection susceptibility

Micronutrients may shape the developing infant gut microbiota and susceptibility to enteric and invasive bacterial infection during infancy. 

Three interconnected pathways link micronutrients with infection susceptibility: microbial competition and metabolism, epithelial barrier integrity, and mucosal immunity.

Micronutrient–microbiota interactions vary across infant developmental and feeding stages. Nutritional status and the early life exposome, including antibiotic and pathogen exposure, can modify microbiota responses to micronutrient deficiency and supplementation.

Iron provides the strongest evidence for direct effects on microbial competition, whereas zinc and fat-soluble vitamins act substantially through epithelial and immune pathways.

Infant studies directly linking micronutrient-driven microbiota changes with clinically relevant bacterial infection outcomes remain limited.

https://www.cell.com/trends/microbiology/fulltext/S0966-842X(26)00252-0

https://sciencemission.com/infection-susceptibility-in-infants