The Role of Carbohydrate Intake on the Gut Microbiome: A Weight of Evidence Systematic Review

Abstract

(1) Background: Carbohydrates are the most important source of nutritional energy for the human body. Carbohydrate digestion, metabolism, and their role in the gut microbiota modulation are the focus of multiple studies. The objective of this weight of evidence systematic review is to investigate the potential relationship between ingested carbohydrates and the gut microbiota composition at different taxonomic levels. (2) Methods: Weight of evidence and information value techniques were used to evaluate the relationship between dietary carbohydrates and the relative abundance of different bacterial taxa in the gut microbiota. (3) Results: The obtained results show that the types of carbohydrates that have a high information value are: soluble fiber with Bacteroides increase, insoluble fiber with Bacteroides and Actinobacteria increase, and Firmicutes decrease. Oligosaccharides with Lactobacillus increase and Enterococcus decrease. Gelatinized starches with Prevotella increase. Starches and resistant starches with Blautia decrease and Firmicutes increase. (4) Conclusions: This work provides, for the first time, an integrative review of the subject by using statistical techniques that have not been previously employed in microbiota reviews.

Diet-microbiota associations in gastrointestinal research: a systematic review

“…Carbohydrate or fiber-microbiota associations reported were generally as expected, with higher dietary fiber associated with higher or increased beneficial microbes 14–17 , 25–27 , 30 , 42 , 45 , 60 , 61 , 65 , 74 , 76–84 , 88–91 , 136 , 140 and the influence of carbohydrate varying depending on the food source and carbohydrate type. 17 , 28 , 29 , 58–60 , 75 , 82 , 85–87 , 92–95 , 135 , 150 …”

“…Twelve systematic reviews 14–17 , 25–30 , 42 , 45 and 32 primary studies 44 , 58–61 , 65 , 74–95 , 135 , 136 , 140 , 150 reported associations between microbiota and either total digestible carbohydrates, total fibers, specific digestible carbohydrates or specific fiber types, with up to 52 associations reported across six studies reported in one review 25 (Supplementary Table S2).…”

Nutrition at the Intersection between Gut Microbiota Eubiosis and Effective Management of Type 2 Diabetes

“…Some rapid digestible starches are hydrolyzed in less than 20 min of enzymatic digestion [ 154 ], while slow digestible starches are absorbed in the small intestine after approximately 100 min of enzymatic digestion. The resistant starch is not hydrolyzed even after 120 min of enzymatic incubation [ 155 ]. Resistant starches are considered dietary fiber found both naturally in cereals, fruits, and vegetables but also may be added into processed foods [ 156 ].…”

Dietary Fiber in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Are We Ready to Change the Paradigm?

“…Starchy foods that contain resistant starch include pulses, cereals, and potatoes. Thus, diets rich in plant-based foods with different types of dietary fibers exert different physiological effects in the gastrointestinal tract and support a more diverse microbiota composition [ 25 , 26 ].…”