Research
Mixed
High protein intake, particularly from animal sources, can lead to gut dysbiosis by increasing pro-inflammatory bacteria and decreasing beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria, whereas plant-based proteins may have a more neutral or beneficial effect.
Include plant-based protein sources (beans, lentils) alongside animal proteins to support a diverse gut microbiome and reduce potential inflammatory effects.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Consumption of animal-based protein is associated with an increase in counts of bile-tolerant anaerobes, such as Bacteroides, Alistipes, and Bilophila [59,60].
Why this rating
Supported by observational and animal studies, with some human data showing mixed results.
Source
You Are What You Eat—The Relationship between Diet, Microbiota, and Metabolic Disorders—A Review
Małgorzata Moszak et al. · Nutrients · 2020
DOI 10.3390/nu12041096
narrative_reviewCited 384×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- High intake of simple carbohydrates (sucrose, fructose) causes rapid deregulation of gut microbiota composition, leading to metabolic dysfunction, whereas complex carbohydrates (fiber, resistant starch) promote beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, supporting metabolic health.Good
- High intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) promotes gut dysbiosis characterized by increased bile-tolerant anaerobes (Bilophila) and inflammation, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) support a healthier microbiota profile with higher diversity and beneficial bacteria.Good
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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