Harmonizing gut microbiota dysbiosis: Unveiling the influence of diet and lifestyle interventions

Abstract

The gut microbiota, comprising trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, is essential to human health and disease. Recent research has illuminated the interactions between many components of human physiology and the gut microbiota, including immune function, metabolism, and neurological health. Central to maintaining this symbiotic relationship is the concept of dysbiosis - an imbalance in the makeup and roles of the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has emerged as a significant factor in the pathogenesis of numerous health conditions, spanning from gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome to systemic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and even neurological disorders like depression and anxiety. While dysbiosis can result from a myriad of factors including antibiotic use, stress, and genetic predispositions, emerging evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle choices exert profound influences regarding the make-up and capabilities of the gut microbiota. In this review, We explore the complex interactions among lifestyle, nutrition, and gut microbial dysbiosis. In particular, we investigate how the gut microbiota can be modified and dysbiosis can be mitigated by dietary patterns, food composition, prebiotics, probiotics, and lifestyle factors including exercise, stress reduction, and good sleep hygiene. Restoring microbial balance and enhancing general health and well-being can be achieved through preventive and therapeutic measures that can be made more effective by understanding how dietary and lifestyle changes might affect the gut microbiota. Through this exploration, we aim to elucidate the possibility of using lifestyle and dietary modifications as tools for managing gut microbial dysbiosis.

Fig. 1

Impact of healthy and unhealthy diet and lifestyle on the gut bacteria: Balanced diet with complex carbohydrates, regular exercises and physical activity promote probiotic microbiota that produce short chain fatty acids; acetate, propionate, butyrate on the contrary unhealthy fatty diet consisting of oligosaccharides, pollution, sedentary lifestyle, stress, alcoholism and smoking promote growth of pathogenic microbiota leading to production of toxic modified SCFAs, LPS and other microbial toxins. These metabolites tend to impact; the muscles, brain, liver and adipose tissue; influencing the metabolism positively/negatively based on the microbial flora producing it.