The perinatal period, the developing intestinal microbiome and inflammatory bowel diseases: What links early life events with later life disease?

The process of microbiota acquisition and microbiome development is complex and the perinatal period is key in both microbiome and immune development. In addition, the intestinal microbiome is increasingly being linked with later life morbidity and diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). It is pertinent to investigate whether perinatal events may influence intestinal microbiome development and therefore, have a role in the development of later life disease. This review will explore the current understanding of events that influence the developing intestinal microbiome in the perinatal period and how these events link to the development of IBD in later life. Establishing that perinatal events may protect or predispose to IBD in later life is of importance as there is potential to implement corrective measures. The perinatal period is a developmentally sensitive interval that offers opportunities to modify microbiome development. Understanding the processes of microbiome development, and understanding how we can tip the balance toward developing a robust and healthy microbiome, may have an essential role in minimising later-life disease and optimising later-life health.