Zdravniški Vestnik (Mar 2021)

The influence of dietary compounds on gut microbiota

  • Maja Šikić Pogačar,
  • Dušanka Mičetić-Turk

DOI
https://doi.org/10.6016/ZdravVestn.3005
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 90, no. 3-4
pp. 178 – 192

Abstract

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The gut microbiota is a complex community composed of trillions of microbes that adapts to its host over the lifetime. Recently, the advances of the methods of high-throughput sequencing have allowed the identification of microbial species in a stool sample, and mass spectrometry identification of their metabolites, both of which together have enabled much of the relevant research in the field. It has became evident that gut microbiota plays an important role in human health and influences the risk of developing many chronic diseases, including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The diverse ecosystem of the gut includes bacteria, viruses, phages, yeasts, archaea, fungi and protozoa. They are responsible for the production of bioactive metabolites, regulation of immune function, energy homeostasis and protection against pathogens. The mentioned functions are dependent on the diversity and abundance of the microbiota which is the reflection of the dietary habits and genetics of the host among other factors. As such, gut microbiota has significant interindividual variations. Diet and lifestyle changes present important determinants in microbiota shaping. The use of antibiotics, different sanitation measures, consumption of processed food and different diets are also reflected in the shifts of gut microbiota composition. Some of the dramatic dietary alterations can cause changes in gut microbiota composition already within 24 h and some of these changes may be difficult to reverse. Through modulation of gut microbiota composition, diet could offer a potential to manage the risk of developing disease and at the same time improving the quality of life and longevity. In this review we look at the role of diet, and specific dietary components, namely carbohydrates, proteins, fats and polyphenols on gut microbiota composition.

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