Review article: dietary fibre-microbiota interactions.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Nutrition Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Modern DNA sequencing reveals diet's critical role in gut microbiome composition and activity.
• Dietary fiber, particularly plant-based, influences microbiome metabolism and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, vital for gut health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate evidence on how dietary fiber intake alterations impact the microbiome and metabolome.
• Assessing both long-term and short-term effects of dietary fiber on gut health.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a Medline literature search.
• Keywords included 'intestinal microbiota,' 'nutrition,' 'diet,' 'dietary fibre,' 'SCFAs,' and 'prebiotic effect.'

Main Results:

• Evidence confirms fiber's influence on microbiome and metabolome composition.
• Both habitual diet and short-term/long-term interventions (in animals and humans) show these effects.

Conclusions:

• High-fiber, plant-based diets increase microbial diversity (Prevotella over Bacteroides).
• Western diets (low fiber, high fat/sugar) reduce beneficial Firmicutes and increase Proteobacteria.
• Specific diets (e.g., high-protein, low-fiber) alter microbial balance, potentially increasing colonic disease risk.