The Role of the Microbiome and the use Of Probiotics in Gastrointestinal Disorders in Adults in the Asia-Pacific Region

The Asia-Pacific region is diverse, with regard to ethnicity, culture and economic development incorporating some of the world's least and most developed nations. Gastrointestinal diseases are common in the Asia-Pacific region and their prevalence, presentation, and management vary considerably within the region. There is growing evidence for an important role for the human gut microbiota in gastrointestinal health. As a consequence, geographic variations in the composition of the gut microbiota may contribute to variations in both the prevalence and response to therapy of specific diseases. Probiotics have been proposed as a valuable option in the prevention and treatment of a number of gastrointestinal illnesses, but the quality of available evidence to support their efficacy is variable. A meeting of international experts in adult and pediatric gastroenterology was held at the Sorbonne University, Paris, France on April 11(th) and 12(th) , 2016 to discuss current evidence supporting the use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders in the Asia-Pacific region. This article provides an overview of the discussions held at this meeting and recommends the formation of an Asia-Pacific Consortium on Gut Microbiota similar to those established in Europe and North America.