Figure 1.

Effects of diet on gut health. The consumption of a diet rich in fat and sugar (HFHS) has been shown to negatively modulate the composition and metabolic activity of the human gut microbiota. Due to the crucial role it plays in human health, imbalances in gut microbiota composition and/or function (dysbiosis) are recognized as possible causes of intestinal, metabolic, and immune diseases. Particularly, HFHS leads to the translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and chronic inflammation. A group of metabolic abnormalities, including fat deposition, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, is exacerbated. On the other hand, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables contributes to gut homeostasis. Dietary functional ingredients have been shown to increase microbial diversity and functions, maintaining the gut microbiota composition in a eubiotic state. Intestinal and immune homeostasis is positively modulated in the host. This figure was created with BioRender.com.