Yunhan Huang, Jiayao An, Tianyi Cui, Zhi Cui, Tingting Xia, Xin Zhao
The function of nutrients to effectively modulate the gut microbial biofilm in barrier integrity has been increasingly recognized in recent years. Future research is needed to further explore biofilm-based nutritional interventions and their therapeutic role in disease management.
BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota has emerged as a key therapeutic target in clinical nutrition for special medical purposes for repairing intestinal barrier damage. However, current strategies primarily focus on modulating microbial composition while overlooking the functional microbial community structure-particularly biofilms, which play important roles in gut physical, chemical and immune barrier homeostasis.
METHODS: Relevant literature on nutrition intervention, gut microbiota and biofilm, and intestinal barrier published in PubMed and CNKI up to June 2026 was narratively reviewed.
RESULTS: This review systematically analyzes nutrients-biofilm-barrier axis, highlights the function of microbial biofilm formation and interaction involved in barrier integrity, and evaluates innovative nutritional interventions capable of modulating biofilm formation, including with enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN). Clinically, we discuss how this biofilm-centric approach offers enhanced clinical outcomes in managing barrier dysfunction associated with diseases such as IBD, compared to conventional microbiota modulation alone.
CONCLUSION: The function of nutrients to effectively modulate the gut microbial biofilm in barrier integrity has been increasingly recognized in recent years. Future research is needed to further explore biofilm-based nutritional interventions and their therapeutic role in disease management.