Work

Gut Microbiome Genes Involved in Plant and Mucin Breakdown Correlate with Diet and Gastrointestinal Inflammation in Healthy United States Adults

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dietary carbohydrates shape the composition and function of gut microbes, which may potentially influence human health. It is not known if these diet-microbiome relationships are relevant to healthy American adults. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that intake of dietary fiber by healthy adults would be associated with the carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) capacity of their gut microbiome and that this capacity would be negatively correlated with gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation. METHODS: We analyzed dietary data, GI inflammation, and CAZyme profiles from shotgun metagenomes of fecal samples in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutritional Phenotyping Study cohort of healthy United States adults (n = 330). RESULTS: = 0.071, P < 0.001). Machine learning (ML) classification models were used to identify specific foods (e.g., potatoes) and microbes (e.g., Lachnospiraceae) as predictors of low Muc2Plant. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the relevance of diet-microbiome relationships even in healthy adults, and that reduction of Muc2Plant, via dietary and/or microbial interventions, would be a beneficial health target to potentially prevent dysbiosis and reduce GI inflammation. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02367287.

Source: Journal of Nutrition

DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.08.027

Authors: Sarah E Blecksmith, Andrew Oliver, Zeynep Alkan, Danielle G Lemay

Institutions: University of California, Davis, Western Human Nutrition Research Center

Language: English

Topic: Gut microbiota and health

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,200