Journal Article

Diet, microbiota, and the mucus layer: The guardians of our health

Nyström, Elisabeth E. L., Suriano, Francesco, Gustafsson, Jenny K., Sergi, Domenico

2022

Overview

The intestinal tract is an ecosystem in which the resident microbiota lives in symbiosis with its host. This symbiotic relationship is key to maintaining overall health, with dietary habits of the host representing one of the main external factors shaping the microbiome-host relationship. Diets high in fiber and low in fat and sugars, as opposed to Western and high-fat diets, have been shown to have a beneficial effect on intestinal health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, improve mucus barrier function and immune tolerance, while inhibiting pro-inflammatory responses and their downstream effects. On the contrary, diets low in fiber and high in fat and sugars have been associated with alterations in microbiota composition/functionality and the subsequent development of chronic diseases such as food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic disease. In this review, we provided an updated overview of the current understanding of the connection between diet, microbiota, and health, with a special focus on the role of Western and high-fat diets in shaping intestinal homeostasis by modulating the gut microbiota.

• Publisher: Frontiers Media SA,Frontiers Media S.A
• Subject: Bacteria / bacterial / bacterial metabolites / barrier function / Carbohydrates / chain fatty-acids / colonic biopsies / Diet / Diet, High-Fat / Dietary Fiber / Ecosystem / Fatty acids / fibers / Food allergies / Gastrointestinal Microbiome / gastrointestinal-tract / gut health / Gut microbiota / High fat diet / high-protein diet / Homeostasis / Immune system / Immunity (Disease) / Immunologi inom det medicinska området / Immunological tolerance / Immunology / Immunology in the Medical Area / induced obesity / Inflammatory bowel diseases / intestinal immune system / Intestinal microflora / intestinal mucus / Intestine / intraepithelial lymphocytes / Low fat diet / Mediterranean diet / Metabolic disorders / Metabolism / Metabolites / Microbiomes / Microbiota / Microorganisms / Mucus / mucus layer / Nutrient deficiency / Nutrients / o-glycosylation / Sugars / Symbiosis / Triglycerides / western diet