Research

Energy balance

Dietary composition (specifically fiber and carbohydrate content) is the primary driver of gut microbiota composition and functional metabolic output, overriding genetic background in shaping enterotypes.

Focus on long-term dietary patterns, specifically increasing fiber and complex carbohydrates, to support a diverse microbiota. While you may not change your 'enterotype' overnight, your gut microbes will rapidly adjust their functional output (gene expression) to process the food you eat. Prioritize plant-based fibers to encourage beneficial bacteria like Prevotella and Bacteroidetes.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
enterotypes were found to be strongly associated with long-term diets, with protein and animal fat correlating with the enterotype characterized by high levels of Bacteroidetes, and carbohydrates with the Prevotella enterotype
Noora Ottman et al. · Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · 2012

Why this rating

Based on multiple metagenomic/transcriptomic studies comparing distinct populations (European vs. African, lean vs. obese).

Source

The function of our microbiota: who is out there and what do they do?

Noora Ottman et al. · Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · 2012

DOI 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00104

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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