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Abstract
The gut microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining normal metabolism, nutrition and health, and when perturbed is associated with disease. Evidence suggests that eating a varied diet that includes a diverse intake of plant foods may enhance the gut microbiome. In patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection or ulcerative colitis, faecal microbiota transplant can help re-establish a healthy gut microbiome and induce remission.
Key Points
- The gut microbiome is the most extensive in the human body and is important for the synthesis, extraction and absorption of numerous metabolites and nutrients.
- The microbiome is influenced by prenatal and environmental factors including maternal prenatal health and postnatal pet exposure, mode of feeding and location of upbringing.
- A diet high and diverse in plant foods may enhance the gut microbiome.
- There is no definitive evidence that fermented foods, such as kimchi, kefir and kombucha, or probiotics are beneficial to gut microbiota.
- Faecal microbiota transplants can help re-establish a healthy gut microbiome and can be used as therapy for Clostridioides difficile infection and ulcerative colitis.
