Cited by 417Gut microbiota and healthNutritional Studies and DietProbiotics and Fermented Foods

Influence of Mediterranean Diet on Human Gut Microbiota

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Merra, Giuseppe, Noce, Annalisa, Marrone, Giulia, Cintoni, Marco, Tarsitano, Maria Grazia, Capacci, Annunziata, De Lorenzo, Antonino·2020·Nutrients

Abstract

Gut microbiota changes correlate with health status. Literature data on gut microbiota show that all dietary changes can induce the alteration of gut microbiota composition. Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a reduction of all-cause mortality and in this review, we analyzed its interactions with human microbiota. In particular, we explored the modulation of the human microbiota, in response to MD adherence, focusing the attention on polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ω-3 and fiber. Evidences suggest that MD is able to modulate the gut microbiota, increasing its diversity. In fact, a Mediterranean-type dietary pattern is associated with specific gut microbiota characteristics. The available evidence, suggests that gut microbiota of subjects that follow a MD is significantly different from subjects that follow a Western diet model. In fact, the latter show an increased gut permeability, which is responsible for metabolic endotoxemia. For this reason, we can speculate that the gut microbiota of the subjects following a MD is able to prevent the onset of chronic non-communicable degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer. However, in order to understand these correlations with dietary patterns, controlled intervention studies on the gut microbiota composition and activity are needed.

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Crossref · 10.3390/nu13010007

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  • The Mediterranean diet leads to an increase in the number of intestinal bacterial species responsible for producing short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate), which are essential for preventing metabolic diseases.

    “MD leads to an increase in the number of intestinal bacterial species responsible for producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate, essential for proper functioning in preventing metabolic diseases [115].”

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Authors
Merra, G., Noce, A., Marrone, G., Cintoni, M., Tarsitano, M. G., Capacci, A., & De Lorenzo, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
  • Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
  • Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IT)
  • Section of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomic, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Corresponding author
Merra, Giuseppe
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-12-22
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
7
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3116639329
Cited by
417
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 57 · 2025: 100 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 1
FWCI
3.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Keywords
Mediterranean diet, gut microbiota, polyphenols, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, Western diet, intestinal permeability, endotoxemia, microbiome diversity, cardiovascular disease, cancer prevention, non-communicable diseases
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Olive Oil, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diet, Dietary Fiber, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Humans, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Databases, Factual, Diet, Mediterranean, Polyphenols

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