Reduced carbohydrate complexity alters gut microbial structure independent of total carbohydrate intake.

ABSTRACT: Dietary habits have dramatically altered over recent decades, yet the impact of simplified carbohydrate intake on the gut microbiome's complexity and function remains poorly understood. This study investigates how the variety of dietary carbohydrates-not just their amount-shapes gut microbial diversity and resilience in C57BL/6 mice. Over eight weeks, mice consumed diets varying in carbohydrate complexity but matched for total carbohydrate content. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we found that reduced carbohydrate diversity led to significant declines in microbial diversity and taxonomic redundancy among important bacterial groups, such as unclassified Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Muribaculaceae, despite no immediate changes in host physiology. Concurrently, Akk

SUBMITTER: Flores C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12458150 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature