Elsevier

Molecular Metabolism

Volume 5, Issue 5, May 2016, Pages 317-320
Molecular Metabolism

Review
A healthy gastrointestinal microbiome is dependent on dietary diversity

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2016.02.005Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

Background

Like all healthy ecosystems, richness of microbiota species characterizes the GI microbiome in healthy individuals. Conversely, a loss in species diversity is a common finding in several disease states. This biome is flooded with energy in the form of undigested and partially digested foods, and in some cases drugs and dietary supplements. Each microbiotic species in the biome transforms that energy into new molecules, which may signal messages to physiological systems of the host.

Scope of review

Dietary choices select substrates for species, providing a competitive advantage over other GI microbiota. The more diverse the diet, the more diverse the microbiome and the more adaptable it will be to perturbations. Unfortunately, dietary diversity has been lost during the past 50 years and dietary choices that exclude food products from animals or plants will narrow the GI microbiome further.

Major conclusion

Additional research into expanding gut microbial richness by dietary diversity is likely to expand concepts in healthy nutrition, stimulate discovery of new diagnostics, and open up novel therapeutic possibilities.

Keywords

Microbiome
Microbiota
Gastrointestinal
Dietary diversity
Agrobiodiversity
Microbiota richness

Abbreviations

FXR
farnesoid X receptor
FODMAP
fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
GI
gastrointestinal
GIMM
GI microbiome modulator
GLP-I
glucagon-like peptide-1
GLUT
glucose transporter
HMP
Human Microbiome Project
MCFA
medium chain fatty acids
MetaHIT
Metagenomics project of the Human Intestinal Tract
NIH
National Institutes of Health
PYY
peptide YY
RYGB
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
SCFA
short chain fatty acid
SGLTs
sodium–glucose cotransporter
TMA
trimethylamine
TMAO
trimethylamine-N-oxide
VSG
vertical sleeve gastrectomy

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