How does the intestine contribute to building immunity?
From a sterile intestine at the time of birth, introduction of various food antigens stimulates acquired immunity to build an efficient intestinal line of defence. Diet diversification is critical, as it represents a range of potentially harmful organisms. Building balanced intestinal microbiota is essential. Therefore, enhancing colonisation by beneficial bacteria prevents the growth of harmful strains. The oral route is preferred for children, since the intestine is the main lymphoid organ in the body, and the number of Peyer’s patches rapidly increases in the early years of life.
