Research
Mixed
Specific components of the Mediterranean Diet, particularly dietary fiber and polyphenols from Extra Virgin Olive Oil, drive the beneficial modulation of gut microbiota by promoting the growth of SCFA-producing bacteria and reducing pro-inflammatory markers.
Incorporate Extra Virgin Olive Oil and high-fiber plant foods into your daily meals. The fiber feeds beneficial gut bacteria to produce protective short-chain fatty acids, while the polyphenols in olive oil help reduce inflammation. This combination is key to the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
The MD is characterized by an high amount of dietary fiber, and also of polyphenols (which would exert a prebiotic action on specific strains)... Due to the high production of SCFA (butyrate species), induced by MD, the microbiota in the subjects who follow MD, seem to contribute to incidence reduction of the of some type of cancers...
Why this rating
Based on review of multiple studies, including in vitro and animal models, but noted as needing more human intervention trials.
Source
Influence of Mediterranean Diet on Human Gut Microbiota
Giuseppe Merra et al. · Nutrients · 2020
DOI 10.3390/nu13010007
narrative_reviewCited 395×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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