How Diet Quality Affects The Gut Microbiota To Promote Health

We know that a healthy diet affects body weight, cholesterol levels and heart health. A new study from the University of Illinois focuses on a different element: the role of diet in maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal microbiota. The researchers concluded that following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) promotes a healthy gut microbiota to protect overall health.

“Currently, there is no definition of a “healthy” microbiome. It is important to understand how diet can influence the composition of the gut microbiota in order to make recommendations for dietary approaches,” said doctoral student Alexis Baldion (DNS). Department of Nutritional Sciences Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Part I, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, lead author of an article published in The Journal of Nutrition .

The microbiota consists of billions of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract. They are involved in many physiological processes, and the diverse gut microbiota may contribute to barrier resistance that can lead to disease.

The researchers analyzed data from the American Gut Project, a large crowdsourced database of stool samples from thousands of people in the United States. Their study focused on data from 432 healthy people divided into three categories based on how well they controlled their health, divided into groups. Nutrition Index (HEI), which is based on the DGA.

The group with the highest overall HEI score, indicating the highest DGA fit, had the most diversity in gut microbiota, as well as a greater presence of bacteria that promote beneficial functions like fiber fermentation, Baldion said.

“The gut microbiota is very good at breaking down fiber, which is important because humans cannot digest fiber. Study participants with a higher quality diet had more bacteria involved in fiber metabolism,” he says.

Dietary and nutritional guidelines have historically ignored the microbiota. But that could change in the future, says Hanna Holser, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition and co-author of the study.

“Our work provides clues to specific microbes that may be important in controlling microbiota health and overall health,” says Holser. “Checking the composition of your microbiome is currently not part of the standard medical examination. Even if you go today and sequence your microbiome, your doctor or nutritionist will not be able to give you reliable and trustworthy recommendations based on your results. But we are food, the link between microbiota and health As we better understand the interaction, some gut microbes may become the target of our nutritional recommendations. feed beneficial gut microbes.

Health policy is also starting to recognize the importance of the gut microbiome, the researchers say. In fact, the DGA's latest scientific report acknowledges that evidence from food microbiota research should be taken into account in future nutritional recommendations.

Holscher and Baldeon note that their research supports the current DGA recommendations for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Following the recommendations outlined in MyPlate is still the best strategy for your overall health, including feeding your gut microbes.

The Journal of Nutrition published an article entitled "Dietary Quality and Fecal Microbiota in Adults from the American Gut Project". In addition to Baldeo and Holscher, writers include Daniel McDonald, Antonio Gonzalez and Rob Knight.

Further information: Alexis D. Baldion et al., Diet quality and fecal microbiota in adults from the American Gut Project, Journal of Nutrition (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.018

Citation : How Diet Quality Affects the Gut Microbiota for Better Health (May 4, 2023) Retrieved May 5, 2023 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-05-diet-quality-affects-gut-microbiota .html

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