On 14 and 15th March was held in Barcelona the 4th Gut Microbiota for Health Summit. The event brought together more than 300 international experts (including doctors and nutritionists) and has served to expose the latest findings in the investigation of the intestinal microbiota and its importance to human health.The role that bacteria inhabiting our gut have is just beginning to be known, but it is becoming evident that there is a relationship between our microbiota and our health. "It's a fascinating and very promising area of scientific research", said Dr. Francisco Guarner, member of the physiology and pathophysiology group at VHIR and chairman of the scientific committee of the Summit. Dr. Guarner explained there are disorders that may be associated with certain intestinal microbiota, such as obesity, certain metabolic and autoimmune disorders (such as celiac disease and food allergies) or some cancers.In the Congress, organized by the UEG ( "https://www.ueg.eu/" United European Gastroenterology Federation) and the AGA ( "American Gastroenterological Association" American Gastroenterological Association), various topics within the field of intestinal microbiota were exposed, but perhaps one of the most important was what might be the consequences of the use of oral antibiotics for the intestinal microbiota. "Every time we take antibiotics by mouth is like a forest fire in our gut occurs. We can rebuild this ecosystem, but it will take time and will never be what it was", explains Dr. Fernando Azpiroz, president of the Summit organizing committee and head of the physiology and pathophysiology group at VHIR. "https://twitter.com/gmfhx" Other topics discussed were the relationship between gut microbiota and development of some psychiatric or behavioral disorders, such as autism, the implication of some intestinal bacteria in the cancer of colon and liver, how cant he type of delivery or the breastfeeding may affect the intestinal microbiota of children (and therefore their health), or what was the microbiota of our Paleolithic ancestors like.The Summit also discussed the use of prebiotics and probiotics to fight disorders of the intestinal flora and as a treatment for certain diseases, and the importance of a balanced diet to protect the body from many diseases. "There has been a lot of interaction between scientists and clinicians, and much discussion about what we know and what these issues can contribute in the future to improve medical practice", explains Dr. Guarner.