Gut Microbiome Dynamics in Food Allergy Development Across the Lifespan: Microbial Mechanisms, Host Interactions, and Therapeutic Perspectives

Over the past several decades, the gut microbiome (GM) has been the focus of extensive investigation. In recent years, major discoveries such as the role of maternal breastfeeding in infant GM development and mode of delivery on infant GM health have expanded scientific knowledge on this topic. As this is a rapidly expanding field of research, substantial work remains to further elucidate and integrate the existing evidence on its role in allergic response and immunological development. This comprehensive review will examine the latest discoveries in GM research and its role in the development of food allergies across the lifespan. Examining the existing literature may identify knowledge gaps regarding precise mechanisms through which the development of GM influences the maturation of the immune system. Given the abundance of the literature, we conducted a database search for articles published within the past 10 years. A total of 56 original research articles were retrieved, analyzed, and included in our review. This review article aims to integrate the current evidence on understanding how the development of GM impacts the immune system and food allergy response throughout the lifespan. We aim to uncover microbial mechanisms of allergy response, host and microbe interactions, and opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Additionally, we aim to reveal gaps in the current knowledge of the GM’s influence on allergy development, offering directions for future research.