{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Shah S"],"funding":["Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung","University of Calgary Eye&apos;s High Fellowship","ERA-HDHL Initiative","Alberta Cancer Foundation","Canadian Institutes for Health Research","Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Germany)"],"pagination":["573"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12413745"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["25(1)"],"pubmed_abstract":["<h4>Background</h4>A plant-focused, healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet enriched with dietary fiber, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fats, is well known to positively influence the gut microbiota. Conversely, a processed diet high in saturated fats and sugars negatively impacts gut diversity, potentially leading to weight gain, insulin resistance, and chronic, low-grade inflammation. Despite this understanding, the mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet impacts the gut microbiota and its associated health benefits remain unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective, observational study explored the relationships between Mediterranean dietary components-vegetables, fruits and nuts, legumes, whole grains, fish, meat, dairy, alcohol, saturated and unsaturated fats-and the gut microbiota in middle-aged adults enrolled in Alberta's Tomorrow Project, Canada. Diet was recorded using the Canadian Dietary History Questionnaire (CDHQ-II) and participants were classified into four quartiles based on a modified Mediterranean Diet Score. Blood and fecal samples were collected for metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively.<h4>Results</h4>Findings revealed that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with increased alpha diversity and a greater abundance of beneficial fiber-degrading bacteria, including Prevotella, Parabacteroides, Clostridium XIVb, Coprobacter, and Turicibacter. Furthermore, participants who consumed more Mediterranean diet components exhibited higher concentrations of serum microbial metabolites including p-hydroxy hippuric acid and indole-acetaldehyde.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Results demonstrate a pivotal role of the gut microbiota, via its metabolites in harnessing the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, highlighting its potential to promote metabolic health and prevent chronic disease."],"journal":["BMC microbiology"],"pubmed_title":["Influence of dietary components on the gut microbiota of middle-aged adults: the gut-Mediterranean connection."],"pmcid":["PMC12413745"],"funding_grant_id":["FKZ: 0315540"],"pubmed_authors":["Shen-Tu G","Laudes M","Shearer J","Shah S","Schlicht K","Rohmann N","Mu C"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Influence of dietary components on the gut microbiota of middle-aged adults: the gut-Mediterranean connection.","description":"<h4>Background</h4>A plant-focused, healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet enriched with dietary fiber, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fats, is well known to positively influence the gut microbiota. Conversely, a processed diet high in saturated fats and sugars negatively impacts gut diversity, potentially leading to weight gain, insulin resistance, and chronic, low-grade inflammation. Despite this understanding, the mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet impacts the gut microbiota and its associated health benefits remain unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective, observational study explored the relationships between Mediterranean dietary components-vegetables, fruits and nuts, legumes, whole grains, fish, meat, dairy, alcohol, saturated and unsaturated fats-and the gut microbiota in middle-aged adults enrolled in Alberta's Tomorrow Project, Canada. Diet was recorded using the Canadian Dietary History Questionnaire (CDHQ-II) and participants were classified into four quartiles based on a modified Mediterranean Diet Score. Blood and fecal samples were collected for metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively.<h4>Results</h4>Findings revealed that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with increased alpha diversity and a greater abundance of beneficial fiber-degrading bacteria, including Prevotella, Parabacteroides, Clostridium XIVb, Coprobacter, and Turicibacter. Furthermore, participants who consumed more Mediterranean diet components exhibited higher concentrations of serum microbial metabolites including p-hydroxy hippuric acid and indole-acetaldehyde.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Results demonstrate a pivotal role of the gut microbiota, via its metabolites in harnessing the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, highlighting its potential to promote metabolic health and prevent chronic disease.","dates":{"release":"2025-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2025 Sep","modification":"2026-06-02T22:33:19.817Z","creation":"2026-05-28T03:05:56.684Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC12413745","cross_references":{"pubmed":["40914795"],"doi":["10.1186/s12866-025-04170-6"]}}