Mixed
Relocating from Latin America to the USA during early life (before age 18) causes a persistent reduction in the Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio and lower fungal alpha diversity, whereas late-life relocation (after age 45) is associated with high bacterial and fungal diversity and high Prevotella to Bacteroides ratios.
If you moved to the US from Latin America as a child, your microbiome likely adapted to a Western diet early on, resulting in lower fungal diversity and a lower P:B ratio. If you moved as an adult, your microbiome may retain more features of your country of origin (higher diversity, higher P:B ratio). To improve your microbiome, focus on dietary acculturation: increasing fiber, whole grains, and vegetables while reducing red meat and trans fats can help shift your microbiome toward a healthier profile, regardless of when you moved.
Those who relocate from Latin America to the USA at an early age have reductions in Prevotella to Bacteroides ratios that persist across the life course. Shannon index of alpha diversity in fungi and bacteria is low in those who relocate to the USA in early life. In contrast, those who relocate to the USA during adulthood, over 45 years old, have high bacterial and fungal diversity and high Prevotella to Bacteroides ratios, compared to USA-born and childhood arrivals.
Why this rating
Large cross-sectional cohort (N=1674), multivariable adjustment for confounders (diet, BMI, meds), but observational design prevents causal inference.
Source
Gut microbiome composition in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is shaped by geographic relocation, environmental factors, and obesity
Robert C. Kaplan et al. · Genome biology · 2019
DOI 10.1186/s13059-019-1831-z
More from this paper
- Higher obesity (BMI) in the US Latino population is associated with a higher Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio and lower bacterial alpha diversity, contrary to findings in some non-Hispanic populations.Good
- Dietary acculturation to a Western diet (higher intake of red meat, trans fats, lower fiber) is associated with a lower Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio and lower fungal diversity, while a healthier diet (higher AHEI score) is associated with a higher P:B ratio.Good
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