Long description

A schematic illustration depicts micronutrients present within the intestinal gut microbiome and host bloodstream, which support the survival and function of the gut microbiome. The illustration shows a blood vessel (bloodstream), host intestinal tissue lined by intestinal epithelial cells with microvilli, and a microbiome present in the intestinal lumen (inside the tube-like digestive tract. The dietary-derived micronutrients are provided by different regions of the intestine as follows: the duodenum provides vitamins B1, B2, B3, B7, B9, vitamins A, D, E, K, and minerals; the jejunum provides minerals, vitamins A, D, E, K, B vitamins, and vitamin C; the ileum provides selenium, magnesium, vitamins C, D, K, and vitamins B1, B7, B9, and B12; the colon provides vitamins B7, K, potassium, sodium, chloride, and short-chain fatty acids. Micronutrients (inset: fruits, cheese, and vegetables) are also synthesised by the microbiota present in the intestinal lumen. The dietary-derived micronutrients from different regions of the intestines are ultimately absorbed into the intestinal tissue as follows: minerals from duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon; water-soluble vitamins (vitamins B1 through B12, and C) from duodenum; fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K) from jejunum; short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, propionate, and acetate) from colon. Micronutrients synthesised from gut microbiota are then transported into the bloodstream.