Plain language summary
Gut microbiome plays an important role in modulating the risk of many chronic diseases through its impact on host immunity and metabolic health. Diet, in turn, can alter the composition of the microbiota. This paper reviewed current understanding of the effects of common dietary components and three select diets on gut microbiota composition and host health. Dietary components included plant and animal protein, saturated and unsaturated fats, digestible and non-digestible carbohydrates, probiotics and polyphenols. The diets included Western diet, gluten-free diet and Mediterranean diet. Based on the reviewed papers, the authors concluded that diet can modify the intestinal microbiome, which in turn has a profound impact on overall health. The impact can be beneficial or detrimental, depending on the abundance and identity of microbial populations and the nature of their interactions with the host. The authors also state that further research using large, long-term clinical trials to evaluate a greater variety of food components would be helpful in making specific dietary recommendations to patients.
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that the intestinal microbiome plays an important role in modulating risk of several chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. At the same time, it is now understood that diet plays a significant role in shaping the microbiome, with experiments showing that dietary alterations can induce large, temporary microbial shifts within 24 h. Given this association, there may be significant therapeutic utility in altering microbial composition through diet. This review systematically evaluates current data regarding the effects of several common dietary components on intestinal microbiota. We show that consumption of particular types of food produces predictable shifts in existing host bacterial genera. Furthermore, the identity of these bacteria affects host immune and metabolic parameters, with broad implications for human health. Familiarity with these associations will be of tremendous use to the practitioner as well as the patient.
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