Mixed
Gut microbiota composition and activity influence host metabolism and immune function through mechanisms involving short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bacterial endotoxins (LPS), but causal links are often confounded by environmental factors and relative abundance analysis errors.
Focus on dietary habits and lifestyle factors that support a diverse and active gut microbiome, such as consuming fermentable dietary fibers and maintaining healthy body weight. Be cautious of claims that specific single bacteria are universally 'good' or 'bad'; their effects depend on your diet and health status. Prioritize whole-food diets over isolated probiotic supplements for long-term gut health.
The abundance of metagenomic data generated on comparing diseased and healthy subjects can lead to the erroneous claim that a bacterium is causally linked with the protection or the onset of a disease. In fact, environmental factors such as dietary habits, drug treatments, intestinal motility and stool frequency and consistency are all factors that influence the composition of the microbiota and should be considered.
Why this rating
The paper is a perspective review citing numerous human observational studies, mouse intervention studies, and proof-of-concept experiments, but acknowledges the complexity and lack of consensus on causality for some bacteria.
Source
Human gut microbiome: hopes, threats and promises
Patrice D. Cani · Gut · 2018
DOI 10.1136/gutjnl-2018-316723
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