Mediterranean diet and faecal microbiota: a transversal study.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Nutrition Science
• Human Health

Background:

• The global Mediterranean Diet's (MD) impact on gut microbiota remains understudied, despite known effects of individual components like olive oil and red wine.
• Existing research often focuses on specific dietary elements rather than the overall dietary pattern's effect on the intestinal microbiota.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and its components with the faecal microbiota in healthy adults.
• To explore the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and the abundance of specific microbial groups and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 31 adults without pre-existing pathologies.
• Calculation of a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) based on food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and literature data.
• Analysis of faecal microbiota using Ion Torrent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantification of SCFAs via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS).

Main Results:

• Higher adherence to the MD (MDS) was associated with increased abundance of Bacteroidetes, Prevotellacea, and Prevotella.
• A higher MDS correlated with a decreased concentration of Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae.
• Individuals with an MDS of 4 or higher exhibited elevated concentrations of faecal propionate and butyrate.

Conclusions:

• The Mediterranean Diet (MD) significantly modulates the composition of the human gut microbiota.
• Increased MD adherence promotes a gut microbial profile associated with higher SCFA production, indicating potential health benefits.
• These findings highlight the intricate relationship between overall dietary patterns and the gut microbiome.