Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...

Development of Human Microbiota

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...

Anatomy of the Intestines

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Safety and efficacy of dry grape extract when used as flavouring in water for drinking for all animal species and categories.

EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority·2026

Same author

Formulation of Personalized, Fortified Beverage Nanoemulsions for Space Exploration with Omega‑3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids.

ACS food science & technology·2026

Same author

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i>CNCM I-3231, <i>Ligilactobacillus salivarius</i>CNCM I-3233, <i>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</i>CNCM I-4901, <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i>CNCM I-3227 and <i>Bifidobacterium animalis</i> subsp. <i>lactis</i>CNCM I-3993 (FlorEquilibre® Chat) for cats (WAMINE SAS).

EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority·2026

Same author

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of viable cells of <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i>CNCM I-3231, <i>Ligilactobacillus salivarius</i>CNCM I-3233, <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i>CNCM I-3232, <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i>CNCM I-4427, and <i>Bifidobacterium animalis</i> subsp. lactis CNCM I-3993 (FlorEquilibre® Chien) for dogs (Wamine SAS).

EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority·2025

Same author

Guidance on the characterisation of microorganisms in support of the risk assessment of products used in the food chain.

EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority·2025

Same author

Evaluating the impact of simulated microgravity of a random positioning machine on the stability of emulsions applying scaling analysis <i>via</i> dimensionless numbers.

Soft matter·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 2026

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

Published on: July 31, 2019

Human gut microbiota: does diet matter?

Johanna Maukonen¹, Maria Saarela¹

¹VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland,P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT,Finland.

The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society

|August 27, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Diet significantly impacts the human gut microbiota, influencing host health. This review summarizes how dietary changes and interventions affect gut bacteria and confounding factors in analysis.

Keywords:

DF dietary fibre Diet FISH fluorescent in situ hybridisation FOS fructo-oligosaccharide GI gastrointestinal Gut microbiota Human gut MZ monozygotic

More Related Videos

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Published on: August 23, 2019

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2026

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

Published on: July 31, 2019

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Analysis of Interactions between Endobiotics and Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Bath Fermentation Systems

Published on: August 23, 2019

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Microbiology
Nutrition Science

Background:

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors a complex indigenous microbiota crucial for host physiology, nutrition, and immunity.
External factors like diet and antibiotics significantly alter gut microbial composition.
Dietary components, especially non-digestible carbohydrates, influence gut microbial metabolism and populations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the effects of diet and dietary interventions on the human gut microbiota.
To elucidate confounding factors in gut microbiota analyses, including methodologies and intrinsic human factors.

Main Methods:

Literature review summarizing existing research on diet and gut microbiota.
Analysis of studies investigating dietary changes (e.g., high-protein, high-fat, prebiotics, probiotics, polyphenols) and their impact on gut bacteria.
Discussion of confounding variables in gut microbiota research.

Main Results:

Dietary interventions demonstrably alter gut microbiota composition and function.
Specific dietary components, such as non-digestible carbohydrates, directly influence microbial metabolic products and fecal bacterial populations.
Interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and host metabolism are vital for maintaining health.

Conclusions:

Diet is a key modulator of the human gut microbiota.
Understanding these dietary effects and analytical confounding factors is essential for harnessing the gut microbiota for health.
Further research into diet-microbiota-host interactions can inform personalized nutrition and therapeutic strategies.