The Microbiome and the Etiology of Diverticulitis

This article provides a review of the existing literature on the microbiome and metabolome of diverticulosis and diverticular disease. Existing studies indicate the microbiome is less likely a cause in the development of diverticulosis. Current evidence highlighting likely etiologic microbes and metabolites in the pathogenesis of diverticular disease is presented. As most data at this time is descriptive and lacks rigorous testing in an animal model of diverticular disease, these findings are extrapolated from the existing understanding of the microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease.