A groundbreaking new study has found that the composition of your gut microbiome plays a crucial role in predicting your likelihood of succumbing to life-threatening infections, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli. The research suggests that altering your diet can significantly reduce the risk of such infections.
Researchers analyzed the stool samples of over 12,000 people from 45 countries using computational approaches, including AI. They discovered that a person’s microbiome “signature” can predict whether their gut is likely to be colonized by disease-causing bacteria. The study identified 135 gut microbe species that are commonly found in the absence of these bacteria, which appear to protect against infection.
Notably, certain beneficial compounds produced by faecalibacterium bacteria through the breakdown of fibre in foods can shield against a range of disease-causing Enterobacteriaceae bugs. The researchers recommend increasing dietary fibre intake to support the growth of good bacteria and crowd out the bad ones, thereby reducing the risk of illness.
In contrast, taking probiotics is less effective in altering the likelihood of Enterobacteriaceae infection. The study’s findings have significant implications for treatment, suggesting that changing the gut environment through diet rather than relying on probiotics may be a more beneficial approach.
The research was published today in the journal Nature Microbiology and highlights the importance of studying pathogens in the context of their surrounding gut microbiome.
Source: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/feeding-your-good-gut-bacteria-through-fibre-in-diet-may-boost-body-against-infections