Consuming extra fiber, which may be found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, may help shield the gut from harmful bacteria.
The report found that individuals who had high levels of a particular type of beneficial bacteria called Faecalibacterium were more likely to have low levels of potentially deadly bacteria like E. coli.
The researchers analyzed samples from the gut microbiomes of over 12,000 people from 45 different countries.
Additionally, the researchers discovered that samples with high concentrations of Faecalibacterium also included significant concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, which are advantageous substances that are produced as a consequence of fiber breakdown.
Reduced levels of this type of bacteria have been associated to gastrointestinal or inflammatory bowel disorders, according to research.
“The main takeaway from our study is that our gut microbiome plays an important role in reducing the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in our gut, and it seems this effect may be modulated through diet,” the study’s principle investigator, Alexandre Almeida, a research fellow at Cambridge University stated.
The group of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in the gastrointestinal system is known as the gut microbiome. Every individual has a different gut microbiota.
According to the latest research, consuming foods high in fiber, such grains, beans, and vegetables, may help ward against dangerous germs, he continued.
The new study, Almeida warned, did not demonstrate that fiber offers protection from dangerous microorganisms.
“This was an observational study performed on the gut microbiome of people at one point in time, so we need to be mindful that most of our results are based on associations,” he stated. “This means that future work is needed to experimentally test whether certain things like fiber and other nutrients prevent the incidence of infections in a longer time span.”
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The scientists examined the bacterial composition of 12,238 individuals using feces samples from 65 investigations conducted in 45 countries. They discovered that a person’s gut’s likelihood of becoming overrun by dangerous bacteria may be predicted based on the makeup of their microbiome.
It doesn’t prove that fiber changes a person’s vulnerability to dangerous bacteria, according to Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
It is a small component of the puzzle. It will be crucial to incorporate food into the analysis going forward.
According to Willett, there are numerous additional justifications for consuming the recommended levels of fiber. “There’s really solid evidence that fiber helps with diabetes, weight control and cardiovascular disease.”
According to Willett, adults require 30 grams of fiber daily.
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According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the majority of Americans only receive roughly 58% of that daily amount.
Dr. Daniel Freedberg, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, stated, “We don’t know from this study that eating more fiber will result in making more beneficial bacteria. But there’s a lot of evidence suggesting that we do eat too little fiber.”
Those who don’t get enough fiber would undoubtedly benefit from increasing their intake. He said that eating a lot of fiber could help protect the colon.
