Title:Healthy Diet, Grape Phytochemicals, and Vitamin D: Preventing Chronic
Inflammation and Keeping Good Microbiota
Volume: 23
Issue: 6
Author(s): Kazuki Santa*
Affiliation:
- Tokyo College of Biotechnology, Ota-ku Tokyo, Japan
Keywords:
Phytochemicals, vitamin D, prebiotic, probiotics, ARM, microbiota, TNF-α.
Abstract: Background: Since the discovery of penicillin, natural antibiotics have protected humans
from malicious microbes. A breakthrough, however, is needed to tackle problems like antimicrobial
resistance (AMR). This review introduces one of the new approaches for the prevention of several
diseases through a healthy diet, grape phytochemicals, and vitamin D, which nurture the growth of
beneficial bacteria, including gut microbiota, suppressing chronic inflammation and up-regulating
immunity. Antibiotics provide protection against infectious diseases by preventing the growth of
pathogenic microbes. However, inappropriate use of antibiotics increases antimicrobial resistance to
bacteria and limits the benefits of antibiotics. In addition, it is well known that antibiotics kill not
only pathogenic microbes but also beneficial ones that reside in healthy individuals. As a result, the
excess use of antibiotics increases the threat of diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We
can reduce the risk of several diseases, including infectious diseases, in the future by nurturing the
good microbes that live in the human body, thereby preventing chronic inflammation induced by the
proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, improving predisposition, and up-regulating immunity. Along
with human evolution, residing bacteria in the skin, digestive system, and other areas have changed.
They defend their hosts from malicious microbes in the surrounding environment. With the progress
of medicine, science, and technology, the quality of life and environmental public health have improved
over the years. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to reduce the risk of illness and
keep ourselves healthy by nurturing the good resident microbiota in our bodies and preventing
chronic inflammation through the diet and the intake of phytochemicals and vitamin D. This new
approach is important, along with the traditional method for preventing emerging infectious diseases
in the future.
