Faecalibacterium prausnitzii

The gut microbiota has emerged as a critical determinant of antitumor immunity and a potential modulator of responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that specific bacterial taxa may influence both efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). However, the magnitude and consistency of these associations remain unclear. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted through March 2025. Eligible studies evaluated baseline gut microbiota composition, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotic/prebiotic interventions, or antibiotic exposure in cancer patients treated with ICIs. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and odds ratios (ORs) for response rates and irAEs, were estimated using random-effects models. Across 38 studies involving 5,642 patients were included. Pooled analysis demonstrated that enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium longum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was significantly associated with improved OS (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51-0.76) and PFS (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.83). Conversely, antibiotic exposure before or during ICI treatment was associated with worse OS (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.45-2.34). Patients undergoing FMT from responders exhibited higher objective response rates (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.48-5.73). Microbiota diversity indices were consistently higher in responders than in non-responders. Collectively, gut microbiota composition and its modulation significantly impact the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity profile of ICIs. These findings highlight the translational potential of microbiome-based biomarkers and interventions in optimizing immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported significant changes in intestinal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients based on quantitative real-time PCR analysis. AIMS: We aimed to review the alterations in intestinal microbiota. METHODS: An online search up to June 9, 2016, was conducted. This systematic review and meta-analysis included differential expression of intestinal microbiota in patients with IBS versus healthy controls (HCs) and subgroup analysis. We assessed the quality of the included studies using an original assessment tool. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles involving 360 IBS patients and 268 healthy controls were included. The quality assessment scores for these articles ranged from 5 to 8. Significant differences in expression in IBS patients were observed for Lactobacillus (SMD=-0.85, P<0.001, I2=28%), Bifidobacterium (SMD=-1.17, P<0.001, I2=79.3%), and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (SMD=-1.05, P<0.001, I2=0.0%) but not Bacteroides-Prevotella group, Escherichia coli or other genera or species. Subgroup analysis showed that diarrhea-predominant IBS patients had significantly different expression of Lactobacillus (SMD=-1.81, P<0.001) and Bifidobacterium (SMD=-1.45, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of bacterial colonization including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and F. prausnitzii was observed in IBS patients, particularly in diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). Microbiota changes participate in the pathogenesis of IBS and may underlie the efficacy of probiotic supplements.

BACKGROUND: Postbiotics produced by kefir lactic acid bacteria through bioconversion of polyphenol-rich extract and whey protein are emerging as promising modulators of gut microbiota and muscle health. This study investigated whether Lentilactobacillus kefiri DH5-derived postbiotics, prepared with Cucumis melo L. and whey protein (KP, Kefir lactic acid bacteria-derived postbiotics), improve muscle strength and gut microbiota composition in healthy adults. METHODS: In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, participants consumed either KP (6 g/day) or placebo. Handgrip strength, circulating biomarkers, and fecal microbiota profiling (using 16S rRNA sequencing) were analyzed. Correlations between microbial taxa and muscle-related biomarkers were assessed. RESULTS: KP supplementation significantly increased dominant-hand grip strength and plasma irisin and reduced IL-1β concentrations after 12 weeks, whereas IGF-1, lean mass, and non-dominant grip strength showed no significant changes. Gut microbiota profiling revealed enrichment of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Latilactobacillus sakei, Lentihominibacter hominis, Mediterraneibacter gnavus, Streptococcus anginosus and Phocaeicola plebeius, with concomitant reductions in Lachnospira eligens, Roseburia inulinivorans, Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans and Vescimonas fastidiosa. Notably, relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was positively correlated with plasma irisin concentration. CONCLUSIONS: KP supplementation produced a modest within-group improvement in grip strength, potentially through gut-muscle axis modulation involving irisin and anti-inflammation pathways. These preliminary findings suggest that kefir-derived postbiotics may have potential relevance for muscle health.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition characterized by relapsing inflammation and microbial dysbiosis. Diet-based therapies have emerged as promising adjuncts in pediatric CD management. To our knowledge, this is the first randomized trial to directly compare Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) with and without Partial Enteral Nutrition (PEN) in pediatric Crohn's patients from a microbiome perspective, highlighting the potential clinical relevance of dietary strategies that are more feasible than exclusive enteral nutrition. In this randomized controlled trial, 60 children with mild-to-moderate CD were assigned to either a CDED-only group or a CDED + PEN group. Gut microbiota composition was assessed using quantitative PCR before and after the 8-week intervention. After 8 weeks, both groups exhibited significant increases in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, with the CDED + PEN group demonstrating a significantly greater increase compared to the CDED group alone (+8.94 vs. +5.00 log CFU, p < 0.001). In the CDED + PEN group, levels of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus also rose significantly, whereas in the CDED-only group, Bifidobacterium slightly decreased and Lactobacillus showed only a modest increase. Moreover, a significant reductions in Escherichia coli and Fusobacterium were observed in the CDED + PEN group compared to CDED alone (E. coli, -1.44 log CFU, p < 0.001; Fusobacterium, -1.08 log CFU, p < 0.001). Changes in Clostridium leptum and Ruminococcus were minimal and not statistically significant between or within groups. These findings suggest a synergistic effect of CDED when combined with PEN in modulating the gut microbiome toward a more anti-inflammatory profile. These findings suggest that CDED + PEN may enhance microbiome modulation compared to CDED alone; however, given the modest sample size and 8-week follow-up, these results should be interpreted cautiously. © 2025 The Author(s). MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Currently, there is great interest in the use of pectins for prebiotic treatment of food allergy. Hence, the effects of two different esterified pectins - low methoxyl citrus-derived pectin (CP-DElow) and high methoxyl apple-derived pectin (AP-DEhigh) - were evaluated in peach allergic patients due to sensitization to lipid transfer proteins (LTPs). This study analyzed the systemic immune response, the gut microbiota composition (using 16S rRNA gene sequencing), and microbial-derived metabolome, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs). Prebiotic treatment with both pectins was safe and induced a significant clinical increase in allergen tolerance in more than 50 % of patients. Additionally, CP-DElow and AP-DEhigh groups exhibited a distinctive systemic proteomic profile characterized by a decrease in various inflammatory cytokines compared to Placebo. Regarding microbiota, CP-DElow induced an increase in Bacteroides_H genus and Roseburia intestinalis species, whereas AP-DEhigh was associated with an increase in Bifidobacterium and Succinivibrio genera, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii species. Reduced concentrations of branched SCFAs were observed after both treatments compared to Placebo. Likewise, fecal levels of microbial-derived secondary BAs were modified by pectin supplementation. Multi-omics integration revealed distinctive signatures in pectin- and placebo-treated patients. This study suggests that pectin treatment is a promising and safe option for LTP allergy.

BACKGROUND: Carnobacterium maltaromaticum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii induce de novo gut synthesis of vitamin D to inhibit colorectal carcinogenesis in mice. Magnesium (Mg) treatment increases circulating vitamin D, and Mg homeostasis is dependent on TRPM7 genotype. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesize that Mg treatment increases gut C. maltaromaticum and F. prausnitzii, and the effect differs by TRPM7 polymorphism. METHODS: The Personalized Prevention of Colorectal Cancer Trial is a double-blind, precision-based randomized controlled trial with 240 participants randomly assigned to both treatment and TRPM7 genotype. Stool, rectal swabs, and rectal mucosa were collected. RESULTS: Of 239 participants who completed the trial, 226 with valid microbiome data were analyzed (treatment n = 112, placebo n = 114). The interaction between treatment and TRPM7 genotype was only significant for C. maltaromaticum (P = 0.001) and F. prausnitzii (P = 0.02) in rectal swabs. In a stratified analysis by TRPM7 genotype without the missense variant, Mg treatment compared with placebo significantly increased abundance of C. maltaromaticum (0.217 ± 0.615 (23.01%) compared with -0.065 ± 0.588 (-6.30%); P = 0.006) and F. prausnitzii (0.105 ± 0.817 (2.13%) compared with -0.095 ± 0.856 (-1.92%); P = 0.04) in rectal swabs. The effect on C. maltaromaticum remained after multiple comparisons (Q = 0.05 for C. maltaromaticum across all sample types and genotypes). In those with the TRPM7 missense variant, Mg decreased C. maltaromaticum, but not F. prausnitzii, compared with placebo in rectal swabs [-0.065 ± 0.511 (-6.54%) compared with 0.133 ± 0.503 (13.30%); adjusted P = 0.04]. The effect did not remain after false discovery rate correction. Mg treatment's effect on C. maltaromaticum in rectal swabs primarily appeared in females, and the treatment-genotype interaction remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with adequate TRPM7 function, Mg supplementation increases the abundance of C. maltaromaticum and F. prausnitzii. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04229992 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04229992?term=NCT04229992&rank=1). The parent

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inadequate dietary fibre (DF) intake is associated with suboptimal gut function and increased risk of several human diseases. Bread is commonly consumed and is ideal to incorporate cereal bran to increase DF content. No human studies have investigated the effects of defatted rice bran (DRB) in bread, which has triple the DF of white bread, purported hypo-allergenicity and a unique nutrient profile, as a dietary intervention in healthy adults. This study aims to assess the relative abundances of a composite of key faecal microbial genera and species involved in DF fermentation and metabolism following the habitual intake of DRB-fortified bread and its influence on other biological markers of host and microbial interactions, cardiovascular risk profile, patient-reported outcomes, total DF intake, and gut physiology in healthy adults with low baseline DF intake. METHODS: Fifty-six healthy adults with low baseline DF intake (<18 g/day (females), <22 g/day (males)) completed a two-arm, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised, crossover study. Participants consumed three (females) or four (males) slices of DRB-fortified bread or control bread daily as part of their usual diet for four weeks, with the intervention periods separated by a two-week washout. Outcomes included faecal microbiota composite (primary outcome); relative abundances (taxa and gene); faecal moisture content and bile acid concentrations; plasma and faecal organic acid concentrations; cardiovascular risk profile; gut comfort, psychological wellbeing parameters; total DF intake; whole gut transit time, and were measured at baseline and following each intervention phase. Additionally, in a sub-study, 15 participants ingested gas-sensing capsules to assess whole and regional gut transit times, and total and regional colonic hydrogen and carbon dioxide concentrations at the same timepoints. RESULTS: DRB-fortified bread consumption significantly increased total DF intake from 20.7 g/day to 43.4 g/day (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the primary outcome, microbial taxa composite within and between groups (False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction, p > 0.10). As c

This study explores the effects of a nutraceutical blend with prebiotics, β-glucans, essential minerals, and silymarin on gut microbiota, inflammation, and sleep quality in obesity through microbiota reshaping and metabolic improvements over 90 days. A double-blind, randomized trial was conducted on 77 participants divided into two groups receiving either a standard nutraceutical blend (NSupple) or a silymarin-enriched blend (NSupple_Silybum). Fecal and plasma samples were collected at baseline and post-supplementation for gut microbiota, metabolic, and inflammatory marker analysis. The results showed a reduction in body weight, waist-to-height ratio, total cholesterol, and fractions in the NSupple_Silybum group. There was a dysbiosis recovery shown by the increase in beneficial gut bacteria, such as Lentisphaerae phylum, Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium genera, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the NSupple group, with a concurrent reduction in Adlercreutzia and Sutterella in the NSupple_Silybum group. Both groups demonstrated improved inflammatory profiles by the reduced TNF-α/IL-10 ratio, reduced cortisol levels, and reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio. Additionally, improvements in sleep quality were associated with reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines and improved microbiota composition. The nutraceutical blend reshaped gut microbiota, enhanced anti-inflammatory species, and improved metabolic and sleep parameters, highlighting its potential as a nutritional strategy for managing obesity and reducing inflammation. © 2025 The Author(s). Molecular Nutrition & Food Research published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the impact of the daily consumption of kefir on the gut microbiome, body composition, and athletic performance of professional female soccer players. METHODS: The participants encompassed 21 females aged 18-29 years who were assigned to one of the two groups: the experimental group, which comprised females who consumed 200 mL of kefir daily for 28 days, and the control group, which comprised females who continued with their normal diet. Anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, the composition of the gut microbiome through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and an athletic performance test known as the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test were performed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The results of this study revealed that the consumption of kefir increased the microbial diversity (Shannon and Chao1 indices), wherein a significant increase was noted in the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, microorganisms that regulate energy metabolism and have anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, the athletic performance variables, including VO2max (mL.kg-1.min-1) and finishing speed (km/h), were strongly related to the abundance of these short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. A link between the microbiota profile and the dietary intake of fiber and protein as well as the body composition measurements was also established. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that kefir consumption can positively affect the gut microbiota, which could in turn affect the athletes' performance. Therefore, to determine the effects of kefir as a functional food in sports nutrition over a longer period, more research should be conducted.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate short-term and long-term impact of avocado consumption without caloric restriction on the gut microbiota of free-living adults with abdominal obesity. Methods: The Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT) was a 26-week, multi-center, randomized, controlled trial involving 1008 individuals with abdominal obesity. Participants were randomly assigned to the Avocado Supplemented Diet Group (AVO), receiving one avocado per day, or the Habitual Diet group (HAB), maintaining their usual dietary habits. Fecal samples were collected at baseline, week 4 and week 26 from a subset of participants recruited at a University of California Los Angeles site (n = 230). Fecal microbiota was assessed with shotgun metagenomics sequencing. Alpha diversity was assessed using the Chao1 and Shannon indices; beta diversity was assessed using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity with significance determined by repeated measures permutational multivariat analysis of variance. Potential association of intervention at week 4 and 26 with alpha diversity, species and metabolic pathways was examined using linear mixed effect models. Results: Compared to the HAB group, the AVO group had higher alpha diversity by 4 weeks, which persisted through the 26-week study period. Exploratory analysis based on healthy eating index-2015 (HEI-2015) indicated that participants with a low HEI score at baseline (≤52.7), had an increase in alpha diversity in the AVO group vs. HAB group. The AVO group had a significant change in beta diversity at week 26 compared to the HAB group. At the species level, the AVO group had significantly increased Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacterium AF16_15 at week 26 compared to the HAB group. Functional analysis showed no significant difference in metabolic pathways between the HAB and AVO groups. Conclusions: Our findings document a potentially favorable effect of avocados on gut microbiota diversity. The prebiotic potential of avocados is more pronounced in individuals with a low diet quality score. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03528031 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03528031).

Background: Peanut consumption could impact cardiometabolic health through gut microbiota, a hypothesis that remains to be investigated. A randomized clinical trial in Vietnam evaluated whether peanut consumption alters gut microbiome communities. Methods: One hundred individuals were included and randomly assigned to the peanut intervention and control groups. A total of 51 participants were provided with and asked to consume 50 g of peanuts daily, while 49 controls maintained their usual dietary intake for 16 weeks. Stool samples were collected before and on the last day of the trial. After excluding 22 non-compliant participants and those who received antibiotic treatment, 35 participants from the intervention and 43 from the control were included in the analysis. Gut microbiota composition was measured by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Associations of changes in gut microbial diversity with peanut intervention were evaluated via linear regression analysis. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze associations of composition, sub-community structure, and microbial metabolic pathways with peanut intervention. We also performed beta regression analysis to examine the impact of peanut intervention on the overall and individual stability of microbial taxa and metabolic pathways. All associations with false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected p-values of <0.1 were considered statistically significant. Results: No significant changes were found in α- and β-diversities and overall gut microbial stability after peanut intervention. However, the peanut intervention led to lower enrichment of five phyla, five classes, two orders, twenty-four metabolic pathways, and six species-level sub-communities, with a dominant representation of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Escherichia coli D, Holdemanella biformis, Ruminococcus D bicirculans, Roseburia inulinivorans, and MGYG-HGUT-00200 (p < 0.05 and FDR < 0.1). The peanut intervention led to the short-term stability of several species, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii F and H, and a metabolic pathway involved in nitrate reduction V (p < 0.05; FDR < 0.1), known for their potential roles in human health, especially ca

Chronic diarrhea has a considerable impact on quality of life. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover intervention trial was conducted with 69 participants (36 in Group A, 33 in Group B), aiming to investigate the potential of postbiotics in alleviating diarrhea-associated symptoms. Participants received postbiotic Probio-Eco® and placebo for 21 days each in alternating order, with a 14-day washout period between interventions. The results showed that postbiotic intake resulted in significant improvements in Bristol stool scale score, defecation frequency, urgency, and anxiety. Moreover, the postbiotic intervention increased beneficial intestinal bacteria, including Dysosmobacter welbionis and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, while reducing potential pathogens like Megamonas funiformis. The levels of gut Microviridae notably increased. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed postbiotic-driven enrichment of beneficial metabolites, including α-linolenic acid and p-methoxycinnamic acid, and reduction of diarrhea-associated metabolites, including theophylline, piperine, capsaicin, and phenylalanine. Targeted metabolomics confirmed a significant increase in fecal butyric acid after postbiotic intervention. The levels of aromatic amino acids, phenylalanine and tryptophan, and their related metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophan and kynurenine, decreased after the postbiotic intervention, suggesting diarrhea alleviation was through modulating the tryptophan-5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptophan-kynurenine pathways. Additionally, chenodeoxycholic acid, a diarrhea-linked primary bile acid, decreased substantially. In conclusion, postbiotics have shown promise in relieving chronic diarrhea.

It has been reported that intake of yogurt or powder supplemented with the Bifidobacterium longum BB536 probiotic strain alleviated subjective symptoms and affected blood markers of allergy in individuals with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) during the pollen seasons of 2004 and 2005, based on randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Furthermore, the 2004 study found that intestinal bacteria such as the Bacteroides fragilis group significantly fluctuated during the pollen season in JCPsis individuals and intake of BB536 yogurt tended to suppress these fluctuations. The present study investigated faecal microbiota to examine whether any changes occurred during the pollen season and whether any influence was exerted by intake of BB536 powder in the 2005 pollen season, which happened to be a heavy season, to confirm the 2004 findings and to evaluate the relationship of microbiota with symptom development. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 44 JCPsis subjects received BB536 or a placebo for 13 weeks during the pollen season. Another 14 Japanese cedar pollen (JCP)-specific IgE negative healthy subjects received placebo for the same period. Faecal samples were collected before (week 0), during (weeks 4, 8 and 13) and after (week 17) intervention, and out of JCP season (week 28). Faecal microbiota were analysed using terminal-RFLP (T-RFLP) and real-time PCR methods. Principal component analysis based on T-RFLP indicated distinct patterns of microbiota between healthy subjects and JCPsis subjects in the placebo group, but an intermediate pattern in the BB536 group at week 13, the last stage of the pollen season. The coordinate of principal component 1 at week 13 correlated with composite scores of JCPsis symptoms recorded during the pollen season. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and the Bacteroides fragilis group were identified as the main contributors to microbiotal fluctuations. Real-time PCR indicated that BB536 intake suppressed increases in the Bacteroides fragilis group compared with the placebo group (P <0.05). These results suggest that faecal microbiota in JCPsis subjects, but not healthy subjects, fluctuate at the end of the

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are consistently associated with alterations in gut microbial communities, although the extent and characteristics of these alterations vary across studies, supporting a potential role of the microbiota in disease pathogenesis and therapeutic modulation. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize current evidence on microbiota alterations in IBD and the clinical application of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). A total of 118 studies were included (76 focused on microbiota profiling and 42 evaluated FMT as therapy). Across heterogeneous study designs and microbial characterization methods, reduced microbial diversity was the most consistently reported alteration, generally more pronounced in CD than in UC. Depletion of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii-a key butyrate producer with anti-inflammatory properties-was commonly reported, often accompanied by functional impairment in short-chain fatty acid production. Microbial patterns were frequently associated with mucosal inflammation and varied across disease phenotypes; these patterns have been increasingly explored as predictors of treatment response and relapse, although mechanistic interpretation remains limited and causal relationships are difficult to establish. Evidence from randomized controlled trials suggests potential efficacy of FMT in UC, particularly with intensive or repeated protocols, whereas data in CD remain limited and heterogeneous, with signals of benefit often appearing transient. FMT was generally well tolerated, but long-term safety data remain scarce. Emerging multi-omic approaches are reshaping the field by integrating taxonomic and functional insights, with potential implications for risk stratification, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic optimization. Further standardized, longitudinal, and mechanistically oriented studies are required to translate microbiome research into clinically actionable strategies in IBD.

The gut microbiota (GM) is a complex microbial ecosystem, and its alteration contributes to the development of several diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Progressive research concerning neurodegenerative diseases and GM reveals that GM dysbiosis has been linked to fostering the development and progression of MS. Among existing bacteria, F.prausnitzii and A.muciniphila are key species implicated in this disease. Thus, the present study systematically reviewed and synthesized the research on the involvement of F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila in MS patients versus healthy individuals. We systematically searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for relevant published articles from January 2010 till January 2023. Out of 400 articles, 16 met the required criteria. The included research investigations originated from the US, Germany, Norway, Egypt, Iran, Brazil, China, the UK, and Romania. Most publications reported decreased levels of F. prausnitzii and increased levels of A. muciniphila in MS patients compared to controls. This review underscored the importance of the F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila in MS, which could explain the chronic inflammation that characterizes this disease and not only help in understanding its etiology and progression but also open new avenues for the treatment strategies focusing on gut health. Moreover, understanding the role of F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila could lead to novel biomarkers for early detection and progression monitoring MS. © 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

AIMS: The Mediterranean diet (MedD) is associated with improved metabolic health and modulation of gut microbiota (GM), both relevant to preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of MedD-based dietary interventions on metabolic outcomes and GM composition in individuals at increased risk of T2D and CVD. DATA SYNTHESIS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Scopus up to October 11, 2024, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MedD-based diets to control diets in adults. Studies reporting outcomes on glucose metabolism and GM composition were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted on metabolic outcomes. GM findings were synthesized descriptively due to heterogeneity in sequencing methods and taxonomic reporting. Nine RCTs (n = 1337 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Compared with control diets, MedD interventions significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (mean difference -0.18, 95 % CI = -0.35, -0.01), LDL cholesterol (-0.10, 95 % CI = -0.19, -0.00), and triglycerides -0.20, 95 % CI = -0.28, -0.12). No significant effects were observed on fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol. A qualitative GM analysis showed increased α-diversity and enrichment of health-related taxa, including Akkermansia muciniphila and Roseburia spp. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that MedD interventions improve HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and promote beneficial GM changes. These may contribute to the metabolic benefits of the MedD. Future research should focus on individualized approaches, longer intervention periods, and mechanistic insights using multi-omics data to better understand the diet-microbiota-host interaction. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO as CRD42023428016.

Obesity is a growing public health problem. In recent decades, scientific evidence has linked gut microbiota to obesity. This systematic review summarizes current knowledge on the composition and functional differences in gut microbiota between individuals with obesity and those with normal weight. Following PRISMA 2020 recommendations, studies published in adult populations between January 2014 and May 2024 were reviewed. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for observational studies that had used advanced sequencing methods, such as 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomics, to assess gut microbiota. The quality of these studies was also analyzed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Our review of 16 studies shows a reduction in microbial diversity in individuals with obesity. In addition, a higher relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes, the families Enterobacteriaceae, Gemellaceae, Prevotellaceae, Streptococcaceae and Veillonellaceae, as well as the genera Blautia, Butyricimonas, Collinsella, Megamonas, and Streptococcus, while beneficial bacteria such as the families Porphyromonadaceae and Rikenellaceae, and the genera Bifidobacterium spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, were depleted. Functional analysis showed a tendency to an increase in metabolic pathways associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, with reduced pathways related to short-chain fatty acid production. Obesity is associated with altered gut microbiota composition and function. However, the variability across studies regarding population characteristics, dietary pattern, and sequencing techniques limits the comparability of findings. Future research should prioritize standardized methodologies and confounding factors to elucidate the role of the gut microbiome in obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori is a globally prevalent gastric pathogen associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Its interaction with the gut microbiome (GM), a dynamic microbial community within the gastrointestinal tract, plays a critical role in modulating host immune responses and disease progression. This study aimed to investigate the complex interactions between H. pylori infection and the GM and to evaluate how microbiome alterations relate to clinical outcomes such as gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer. METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted using publicly available 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomic datasets. Microbiome composition differences were assessed using differential abundance analysis, alpha- and beta-diversity metrics, and principal component analysis (PCA). Random forest models were employed to predict the clinical outcomes based on microbiome and clinical data. Hyperparameter tuning and cross-validation were applied to ensure model robustness. RESULTS: The analysis revealed significant microbial shifts associated with H. pylori infection, including enrichment of Proteobacteria, Fusobacterium spp., and Prevotella spp., and depletion of beneficial taxa like Lactobacillus spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Microbial diversity declined progressively with disease severity. Predictive models demonstrated high accuracy (89.3%) in classifying the disease states and identifying key microbial biomarkers such as Fusobacterium spp. and Bacteroides fragilis with strong predictive power. DISCUSSION: This study highlights the critical role of GM dysbiosis in H. pylori-related disease progression. The identified microbial signatures and predictive models offer promising tools for early diagnosis, risk stratification, and personalized treatment of H. pylori-associated gastrointestinal disorders. Future integration of multi-omics data may further unravel the microbial mechanisms and support microbiome-based precision medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer patient's survival has gradually improved due to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Several studies showed a possible association between the intestinal microbiome and ICI efficacy. Strategies for modifying the composition of the gut microbiome encompass various dietary interventions, which may have distinct impacts on the outcomes of ICI-treated patients. In our systematic review, we explored how dietary habits correlate with therapeutic responses in cancer patients and cancer mouse models undergoing immunotherapy. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using search terms: "cancer", "immunotherapy", "diet", and "microbiome", from Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. The outcomes in the clinical studies were overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), or progression-free survival (PFS) in human studies. In mouse studies, change in tumor size was the endpoint. The comparator attributions were questionnaire-based dietary interventions. RESULTS: Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review (6 prospective cohort studies, 1 cross-sectional observational study, and 12 mouse studies). A consistent association was observed between high (vs. low) fiber consumption and improved therapeutic response with a pooled odds ratio of 5.79 when including all human prospective cohort studies. In mice, limited availability of methionine, cysteine, and low intake of leucine and glutamine was linked to reduced tumor progression. Combining ICIs with intermittent fasting or a fasting-mimicking diet significantly decreased tumor volume in mouse melanoma models. In humans, a higher relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and lactic acid-producing bacteria-particularly Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila-correlated with objective response rates (ORR). Similar microbiome alterations were observed in mouse models. Increased fiber intake enhanced ICI efficacy in mice by modulating the gut microbiome, primarily via elevated SCFA production-an effect also reflected in human studies. CONCLUSION: Intermittent fasting, high fiber, and low sugar consumption are significant

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The gut microbiota play crucial roles in the digestion and degradation of nutrients, synthesis of biological agents, development of the immune system, and maintenance of gastrointestinal integrity. Gut dysbiosis is thought to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), one of the world's fastest growing diseases. The aim of this systematic review is to identify differences in the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota in individuals with T2DM. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted to identify studies reporting on the difference in gut microbiota composition between individuals with T2DM and healthy controls. Relevant studies were evaluated, and their characteristics and results were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. The studies were assessed for risk of bias and their findings were reported narratively. RESULTS: 58 observational studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included. Beta diversity was commonly reported to be different between individuals with T2DM and healthy individuals. Genera Lactobacillus, Escherichia-Shigella, Enterococcus, Subdoligranulum and Fusobacteria were found to be positively associated; while Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Roseburia, Faecalibacteirum and Prevotella were found to be negatively associated with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review demonstrates a strong association between T2DM and gut dysbiosis, as evidenced by differential microbial abundances and altered diversity indices. Among these taxa, Escherichia-Shigella is consistently associated with T2DM, whereas Faecalibacterium prausnitzii appears to offer a protective effect against T2DM. However, the heterogeneity and observational nature of these studies preclude the establishment of causative relationships. Future research should incorporate age, diet and medication-matched controls, and include functional analysis of these gut microbes. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023459937.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, a hallmark of age-related muscle function decline, significantly impacts elderly physical health. This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of gut microbiota on sarcopenia. METHODS: Publications up to September 24, 2023 were scrutinized on four databases - PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase - using relevant keywords. Non-English papers were disregarded. Data regarding gut microbiota alterations in sarcopenic patients/animal models were collected and examined. RESULTS: Thirteen human and eight animal studies were included. The human studies involved 732 sarcopenic or potentially sarcopenic participants (aged 57-98) and 2559 healthy subjects (aged 54-84). Animal studies encompassed five mouse and three rat experiments. Results indicated an increase in opportunistic pathogens like Enterobacteriaceae, accompanied by changes in several metabolite-related organisms. For example, Bacteroides fluxus related to horse uric acid metabolism exhibited increased abundance. However, Roseburia, Faecalibacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Eubacterium retale, Akkermansiaa, Coprococcus, Clostridium_XIVa, Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Eubacterium involved in urolithin A production, and Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Clostridium associated with bile acid metabolism displayed decreased abundance. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related sarcopenia and gut microbiota alterations are intricately linked. Short-chain fatty acid metabolism, urolithin A, and bile acid production may be pivotal factors in the gut-muscle axis pathway. Supplementation with beneficial metabolite-associated microorganisms could enhance muscle function, mitigate muscle atrophy, and decelerate sarcopenia progression.

Recent research indicates that the microbiome has a significant impact on the progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and that creating therapies that change its composition could positively impact the outcomes of IBD treatment. This review summarizes the results of extensive studies that examined IBD patients undergoing several therapies, including anti-TNF medication, vedolizumab, ustekinumab, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and the alterations in their gut microbiota's composition and function. The objective was to investigate the variety and effectiveness of microbial species in order to discover new biomarkers or therapeutic targets that could improve the outcome of treatment for these patients. This research aimed to offer useful insights into personalized medicine techniques for managing IBD. Beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia have been consistently linked to favorable clinical outcomes, whereas pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Clostridioides difficile are associated with worsening disease conditions. Although many studies have examined the role of gut microbiota in IBD, there is still a need for more targeted research on the connection between specific microbial communities and treatment outcomes. This study sought to address this gap by exploring the intricate relationship between the gut microbiota composition and the effectiveness of IBD medications.