Dietary impacts on the composition of microbiota in human health and disease

Abstract

More and more metabolic diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancers are being linked with the alteration in gut microbiota. Host genetics and environment are some of the factors that are thought to contribute in shaping gut flora. Recent research has suggested that development of gut microbial consortia and thereby host-microbe interaction is essentially guided by the early colonizers and the diet. Important metabolites derived from the gut bacteria and diet help in the development and maintenance of a healthy gut and consequently the immune system. In the present review, we have examined the impact of diet on evolution, stabilisation and dysbiosis of human gut microbiota and how diet induced subtle changes in the microbiota lead to the disease state. Diet, an important environmental factor, plays crucial role in tilting this fine balance in either directions. The importance of dietary pattern in regulating growth of beneficial bacteria has been discussed. We have also examined different intervention strategies that affect microbiota and consequently the metabolite profiles resulting in a diseased state. Various high-throughput techniques that are used in the studies described here have also been discussed.