Microbiome-Guided Maternal and Child Nutrition: A Structured Narrative Review of Indigenous African Foods, Fermented Foods, and Emerging Evidence

Summary

This structured narrative review examines the role of indigenous African foods, fermented foods, and microbiome-directed interventions in maternal and child nutrition, synthesising evidence from 2015–2025 on how these dietary approaches may shape gut microbial communities and support health through metabolite production and immune pathways. The authors identify significant evidence gaps regarding population-specific microbiome profiles and longitudinal maternal–infant relationships, particularly in African and low-resource settings, and propose a Microbiome-Informed Nutrition Framework to guide future research integration of indigenous food systems, precision nutrition, and community-based healthcare.

Regional applicability

The review acknowledges limited evidence from African settings and explicitly identifies this as a research gap. Findings on indigenous food systems and fermented foods may be transferable to United Kingdom populations with African heritage or those adopting similar dietary practices, though the framework's emphasis on low-resource contexts and traditional indigenous systems suggests primary applicability lies outside high-income healthcare systems. UK implementation would require contextualisation around locally available indigenous and fermented foods.

Key measures

Gut microbiota composition and function; short-chain fatty acids; signalling pathways (AMPK, mTOR, MAPK, NF-κB, TLR, PPAR); barrier integrity; immune regulation; early-life disease susceptibility

Outcomes reported

The review synthesised evidence on how indigenous foods, fermented foods, probiotics, and postbiotics may influence maternal and child gut microbiota and health outcomes through metabolite production and immune regulation pathways. It identified research gaps and proposed a Microbiome-Informed Nutrition Framework for future investigation in low-resource settings.

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