Mixed
High adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower Escherichia coli counts, a higher Bifidobacteria:E. coli ratio, increased Candida albicans levels, and greater acetate molar ratios in the gut microbiota.
Adhering closely to a Mediterranean diet pattern (high in plants, olive oil, fish; low in red meat/sweets) shifts your gut microbiota to favor beneficial ratios (Bifidobacteria/E. coli) and increase beneficial short-chain fatty acids like acetate. Note that this shift may initially increase gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating or pain, which the study observed as more pronounced in high adherers.
Participants with a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet had lower Escherichia coli counts (P = 0·022), a higher bifidobacteria:E. coli ratio (P = 0·025), increased levels and prevalence of Candida albicans (P = 0·039 and P = 0·050, respectively), greater molar ratio of acetate (P = 0·009)... compared with those reporting low adherence.
Why this rating
Cross-sectional observational study with a moderate sample size (n=100 analyzed), controlling for BMI, age, and sex, but lacking causal intervention data.
Source
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with the gut microbiota pattern and gastrointestinal characteristics in an adult population
Evdokia K. Mitsou et al. · British Journal Of Nutrition · 2017
DOI 10.1017/s0007114517001593
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