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Dietary Intake of Phytochemicals, Gut Microbiota, and Appetite Control

Summary

This research editorial highlights how plant-based foods rich in phytochemicals can improve gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria growth and supporting communication between the gut and brain. These dietary interventions show promise in helping control appetite, improve metabolism, and reduce the risk of diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes. The studies suggest that personalized nutrition approaches based on individual microbiome profiles could offer more effective disease prevention and health maintenance strategies.

Background

Plant phytochemicals have been recognized for their multiple health benefits including modulation of immune responses, inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and cognitive function. Gut health is increasingly understood as essential for overall health and wellbeing, with the gut microbiota playing a crucial role in determining human health status. Poor diet quality and chronic stress compromise gut immunity and contribute to various mood disorders through gut-brain axis dysfunction.

Objective

This editorial presents a special issue examining the relationships between dietary phytochemicals, gut microbiota composition, and appetite control mechanisms. The review focuses on investigating gut-related mechanisms including gut hormones, gastrointestinal motility, and gut-brain communication in relation to functional foods and their health benefits.

Results

The compiled research demonstrates that short-term elderberry juice consumption augments fecal microbiota and improves glucose tolerance and fat oxidation. High-protein versus high-carbohydrate diet interventions show differential microbiome effects, and polyphenol supplementation shows potential positive effects on memory in adults over 60 years.

Conclusion

Gut microbiota and phytochemical-rich diets can effectively modulate the gut-brain axis, which plays a bidirectional homeostatic role between gut and brain functions. Future research should focus on personalized nutraceutical interventions tailored to individual genetic and microbiome profiles to optimize health outcomes and prevent non-communicable diseases.
  • Published in:Nutrients,
  • Study Type:Editorial Review and Special Issue Summary,
  • Source: PMID: 40871673, DOI: 10.3390/nu17162646
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