Effect of Diet and Dietary Components on the Composition of the Gut Microbiota

Diet and dietary components have profound effects on the composition of the gut microbiota and are among the most important contributors to the alteration in bacterial flora. This review examines the effects the Western, plant-based, high-fat, medical ketogenic, and Mediterranean diets have on the composition of the gut microbiota in both mice and human subjects. We show that specific dietary components that are commonly found in the plant-based and Mediterranean diet play a role in shifting the microbial composition. This review further evaluates the bacterial metabolites that are associated with diet, and their role in systemic inflammation and metabolic endotoxemia. Furthermore, the associations between diet/dietary components and altering bacterial composition, may lead to potential therapeutic targets for type II diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory diseases.

Automated summary

This review explores the impact of different diets on the gut microbiota composition, finding that specific dietary components in plant-based and Mediterranean diets can influence microbial composition and bacterial metabolites, which in turn affect systemic inflammation and metabolic endotoxemia. These associations between diet/dietary components and altering bacterial composition may provide potential therapeutic targets for type II diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory diseases.