Researchers led by the University of Cambridge have discovered that a high-fiber diet may significantly boost gut health, reducing the risk of infections from harmful bacteria. By promoting the growth of beneficial microbes, dietary fiber creates an environment in the gut that is hostile to pathogens, providing a promising approach to combat antibiotic resistance.
In a new study, researchers led by the University of Cambridge have found that a diet rich in fiber may significantly reduce the risk of infections by potentially harmful bacteria. The study, published in Nature Microbiology, suggests that promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria through dietary choices could enhance the body’s natural defenses against diseases.
Enterobacteriaceae, a group of bacteria that includes Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella and E. coli, is commonly found at low levels in a healthy human gut. However, an overgrowth of these bacteria, often triggered by increased inflammation or contaminated food, can lead to severe illnesses and even life-threatening conditions.
Utilizing advanced computational techniques and artificial intelligence, the research team analyzed the gut microbiome compositions of more than 12,000 individuals from 45 countries.
Their findings revealed that a person’s unique microbiome signature could predict susceptibility to colonization by Enterobacteriaceae, demonstrating consistent results across various health states and geographical locations.
The study identified 135 species of gut microbes that appear to offer protection against Enterobacteriaceae. Among these beneficial species is Faecalibacterium, which produces short-chain fatty acids by breaking down dietary fiber. These compounds seem to create an inhospitable environment for harmful bacteria, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
“Our results suggest that what we eat is potentially very important in controlling the likelihood of infection with a range of bacteria, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, because this changes our gut environment to make it more hostile to invaders,” senior author Alexandre Almeida, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine, said in a news release.
The findings stress the significance of dietary habits in maintaining gut health.
“By eating fiber in foods like vegetables, beans, and whole grains, we can provide the raw material for our gut bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids – compounds that can protect us from these pathogenic bugs,” added Almeida.
The research comes at a critical time when antibiotic resistance is rising globally, making it increasingly challenging to treat infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and similar pathogens.
“With higher rates of antibiotic resistance, there are fewer treatment options available to us. The best approach now is to prevent infections occurring in the first place, and we can do this by reducing the opportunities for these disease-causing bacteria to thrive in our gut,” Almeida added.
Previous attempts to manage gut health often involved the use of probiotics, but this study suggests a shift in focus may be necessary. Instead of trying to outcompete harmful bacteria with probiotics, a more effective strategy could be altering the gut environment through diet.
“This study highlights the importance of studying pathogens not as isolated entities, but in the context of their surrounding gut microbiome,” first author Qi Yin, a visiting researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine, said in the news release.