Why Do Parents Keep Hearing About the Microbiome?

Scientists know that babies receive helpful microbes from their mothers, who pass them on to their children through the birth canal and breast milk, but the specific benefits derived from those microbes are not fully understood.

Why is the microbiome important?

While there’s still a lot that we don’t know about the microbiome, scientists say it’s clear that it plays an important role in health and disease.

“It prevents overgrowth by harmful microbes, that’s one important function,” said Dr. Gregory A. Storch, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis. “Another is that it’s important in digestion and breaking down food.”

The microbiome has also been shown to help the immune system learn the difference between good and bad bacteria, he added.

The gut microbiome plays a role in several gastrointestinal diseases, according to the American Microbiome Institute, and may even influence behavior. Accumulating evidence also suggests that the microbiome could influence asthma, obesity, heart disease, cancer therapies and even autism, but the research is far from conclusive.

Should parents be skeptical of products that claim to support the microbiome?

In short, yes. The “microbiome” has become a buzzword that vaguely signifies “good bacteria,” so some advertisers have promoted their products as being “gentle” on the body’s microbes. But without studies showing that these products are truly beneficial to the helpful microbes, experts have said that consumers should be wary.

“It’s become incredibly hot as a scientific area, but also the realm of snake oil,” Dr. Eisen said.

With that in mind, Dr. Eisen created an “Overselling the Microbiome Award” on his blog, which exposes questionable research as well as companies that are touting unproven claims about the microbiome to sell products. “I could probably give out one of them a day if I had time,” Dr. Eisen said.