Exploring the effects of dietary fiber on gut microbiome and inflammatory diseases

In a recent study published in Medicine in Microecology, researchers reviewed how dietary fibers modulate the composition and function of gut microbiota.

Diet is considered an important factor in shaping the microbiome of the human gut. People consume less dietary fiber due to the rise of Western diets (high in simple carbohydrates and fats and low in fiber) associated with industrialization. These diets may impact the gut microbial composition and negatively affect the host’s physiology, metabolism, and immunity.

Dietary fibers are complex polymeric carbohydrates that cannot be metabolized by enzymes encoded by the human genome and are metabolized by gut microbes through anaerobic fermentation. Epidemiologic studies suggest an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases associated with a lower dietary fiber intake. The gut microbiome regulates host metabolism and immune homeostasis.

Different dietary fibers and their metabolic products, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), can profoundly impact hosts and modulate gut microbial composition. Therefore, exploring how dietary fibers regulate host microbial communities can allow for targeted therapeutic interventions. As such, in the present study, the authors illustrate the effects of dietary fiber interventions on the gut microbiome and inflammatory diseases.

Dietary…