Intestinal microorganisms and health

As we all know, switching from a diet based on fat or carbohydrates to a diet featuring more vegetables will lead to more flatulence, especially if you switch to cruciferous vegetables. Previous studies have shown that diet can affect the metabolic activity and composition of intestinal flora. Intestinal gas production can be used as an indirect parameter related to abdominal symptoms to evaluate the metabolic activity of intestinal flora. But at present, there are few studies to understand the relationship between diet and flatulence.

Recently, a study published in the journal Nutrition showed that after switching to a plant-based diet, flatulence increased, which indicated that the intestinal microbial community was healthier.

In order to learn more about the influence of switching to a plant-based diet on digestion and intestinal biota, the researchers conducted a cross-randomized study, in which 20 healthy adult male volunteers were recruited and asked to adopt a western-style diet, and then changed to a Mediterranean diet rich in fiber for two weeks. At the same time, the researchers recorded the following results: (1) times of anal exhaust; Digestibility; The amount of gas discharged by the probe after meal; Magnetic resonance imaging of colon contents; The classification and metabolic function of intestinal flora were carried out by shotgun sequencing of fecal samples. Urine metabolites using non-targeted metabonomics.

The results showed that although the difference of microbial composition between the two diets was relatively small, there were great differences in microbial metabolism, such as the spectrum of urine metabolites and the abundance of microbial metabolic pathways. Compared with the western diet, the Mediterranean diet rich in fiber has more times of anal exhaust, feeling flatulence and bowel sounds, and the volume of gas after meals is larger. The number of episodes of flatulence increases by 7 times a day, and the gas discharged each time increases by about 50%. The researchers pointed out that this is due to the fermentation of plant materials in the intestine.

The Mediterranean diet rich in fiber has more times of anal exhaust, feeling flatulence and bowel sounds, and a large amount of gas after meals.

At the same time, the researchers found that the change of diet did not change the number of times volunteers defecated every day-but it did change the amount of excrement. Plant diet increased the average size of feces by 1 times. The researchers pointed out that this is due to a large increase in bacterial growth and excretion.

In short, the study pointed out that a plant-based diet will promote healthier types of intestinal bacteria, thus improving the overall intestinal health.

source

ClaudiaBarberetal, Differentiable Fects of Westernand Mediterranean-Type Dietsungut Microbiota: Ametagenomics and MetabolomicsApproach, nutrients. DOI: 10.3390/no 13082638