Plant-based diet protects gut mucosa against inflammation

There is substantial evidence that the gut microbiota directly affects the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses in the gut

Because microbes depend on dietary substrates in the gut, the gut microbiome is often considered the medium through which food exerts pro- and anti-inflammatory effects

Other studies in mice and humans have shown that ingredients added during food processing, including dietary emulsifiers, antimicrobial additives and artificial sweeteners, can promote intestinal permeability and intestinal inflammation by increasing mucus bacteria and endotoxins

Since microbes thrive on dietary substrates, scientists have asked whether they can nourish an anti-inflammatory gut ecosystem? To this end, experts from the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands investigated Relationships between 173 dietary factors and the microbiome of 1425 individuals across 4 cohorts, aiming to uncover the interplay between diet, gut microbiota and their functional capacity to induce intestinal inflammation

The researchers selected 4 cohorts of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and the general population

The results showed 38 associations between dietary patterns and the microbiome

Among them, processed foods and foods of animal origin were consistently associated with higher abundances of Firmicutes, Ruminococcus species of the genus Blautella, and endotoxin synthesis pathways

Unsupervised dietary cluster analysis reveals common food patterns

To this end, the researchers identified dietary patterns consistently associated with bacterial groups that have a common functional role in health and disease

In conclusion, a plant-based diet can protect the intestinal mucosa and have anti-inflammatory effects

(Source: Bio Valley)

"China Food News" (May 14, 2021 03 edition)

(Editor-in-charge: Han Songyan)