Insights into Gut Dysbiosis: Inflammatory Diseases, Obesity, and Restoration Approaches

Abstract

The gut microbiota is one of the most critical factors in human health. It involves numerous physiological processes impacting host health, mainly via immune system modulation. A balanced microbiome contributes to the gut's barrier function, preventing the invasion of pathogens and maintaining the integrity of the gut lining. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiome's composition and function, disrupts essential processes and contributes to various diseases. This narrative review summarizes key findings related to the gut microbiota in modern multifactorial inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. It addresses the challenges posed by antibiotic-driven dysbiosis, particularly in the context of C. difficile infections, and the development of novel therapies like fecal microbiota transplantation and biotherapeutic drugs to combat these infections. An emphasis is given to restoration of the healthy gut microbiome through dietary interventions, probiotics, prebiotics, and novel approaches for managing gut-related diseases.

Keywords: Clostridioides difficile; Crohn’s disease; gut microbiota; obesity; ulcerative colitis.

Figure 1

Overview of factors that affect the gut microbiota and current available therapies for IBD, namely ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as in Clostridioides difficile infection. Panel (A) summarizes the factors that induce dysbiosis in the microbial gut communities, such as microbiome/host interaction, environmental factors, high-fat diet, and genetic predisposition leading to a reduction in gut alpha diversity. Panel (B) shows available microbiota restoration therapies for UC and CD and treatments against C. difficile colonization (probiotic supplementation, Rebyota/SER-109 Partial Enteral Nutrition, high-fiber prebiotic diet, and fecal microbiota transplants). Created with Biorender.

Figure 2

Overview of how diet and the consumption of fiber and fermented foods change the gut microbiota. Panel (A) shows how a high-fat diet induces a reduction in IgA and permeability as well as a reduction in probiotic Bifidobacteria. Panel (B) shows how fiber and fermented foods such as kimchi increase protective bacteria and lean phenotypes. Panel (C) shows how combining diet and probiotics helps decrease inflammation and obese phenotype markers. In the figure, upward green arrows indicate an increase in specific taxa, while red downward arrows indicate a decrease. Created with Biorender.