The Gut Microbiome and Residential Surrounding Greenness: a Systematic Review of Epidemiological Evidence

Purpose of Review A healthy indigenous intestinal microbiome is essential for human health. Well-established gut microbiome determinants only explain 16% of the inter-individual variation in gut microbiome composition. Recent studies have focused on green space as a potential determinant of the intestinal microbiome. We systematically summarize all evidence concerning the association between green space and intestinal bacterial diversity, evenness, and richness indices, specific bacterial taxa, and potential underlying mechanisms.Recent Findings Seven epidemiological studies were included in this review. The majority of the included studies (n = 4) reported a positive association between green space and intestinal bacterial diversity, evenness, and richness, while two reported the opposite. There was little overlap between the publications regarding the association between green space and the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa. Only a decrease in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides, and Anaerostipes and an increase in Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae were reported in multiple studies, predominantly suggesting that green space is positively associated with the intestinal microbiome composition, and subsequently with human health. Lastly, the only examined mechanism was a reduction in perceived psychosocial stress.

Automated summary

This review systematically summarizes the association between green space and intestinal bacterial diversity, evenness, richness, specific bacterial taxa, and potential underlying mechanisms. The majority of studies reported a positive association between green space and intestinal bacterial diversity, evenness, and richness. Specific bacterial taxa were also found to be influenced by green space. The main underlying mechanism explored was the reduction in perceived psychosocial stress.