Abstract
The MD (Mediterranean diet) is recognized as one of the healthiest diets worldwide and is associated with the prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Dietary habits are considered one of the strongest modulators of gut microbiota, which seem to play a significant role in health status of the host. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate interactive associations between gut microbiota composition and habitual dietary intake in 360 Spanish adults from the Obekit cohort (normal weight, overweight, and obese participants). Dietary intake and adherence to the MD tests were administered and fecal samples were collected from each participant. Fecal 16S rRNA (ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid) gene sequencing was performed and checked against the dietary habits. MetagenomeSeq was the statistical tool applied to analyze data at the species taxonomic level. Results from this study identified several beneficial bacteria that were more abundant in the individuals with higher adherence to the MD. Bifidobacterium animalis was the species with the strongest association with the MD. Some SCFA (Short Chain Fatty Acids) -producing bacteria were also associated with MD. In conclusion, this study showed that MD, fiber, legumes, vegetable, fruit, and nut intake are associated with an increase in butyrate-producing taxa such as Roseburia faecis, Ruminococcus bromii, and Oscillospira (Flavonifractor) plautii.
Highlights
Gut microbiota status has an impact on the health and disease of the host [1]
Baseline characteristics of the population that participated in this study separated by adherence to the MD and Body mass index (BMI) are shown in Table 1, including age, anthropometric measures, and biochemical and dietary data
The present results provide evidence for the notion that a high adherence to the MD leads to increased levels of several fiber- and carbohydrate-degrading bacterial species linked to SCFA metabolism that may contribute toward a healthier status
Summary
Gut microbiota status has an impact on the health and disease of the host [1]. Dietary habits are considered one of the strongest modulators of gut microbiota. Hypertrophied adipocytes release inflammatory molecules (i.e., interleukins and tumor necrosis factor), which can act as false alarms in the immune system, causing the entire immune system to reduce its sensitivity, such that the response to a real condition may be delayed [4] This can aid the development of several inflammation-related disorders such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases [5,6]. Most of these disorders have been associated with alterations in microbiota composition in humans, especially those with reduced bacterial richness and diversity [7] These changes have been related to disturbed gut barrier functions, increased gut permeability, and increased plasma concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and other bacterial by-products, which cause low-grade inflammation that, again, triggers the development of insulin resistance, obesity, metabolic syndrome, colorectal cancer [8], and autoimmune disorders such as Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, and allergies [7]
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