By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.May 13 2024 An article published in the journal Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology provides an in-depth overview of the Western diet's impact on modulating gut microbiota and gut barrier functionality and subsequently increasing the risk of non-communicable chronic diseases.
Non-communicable diseases are a group of health conditions that are not primarily caused by an acute infection. These conditions include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic lung disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Related StoriesOther vital components of the Western diet, including red meat, refined sugar, salt, and artificial sweeteners, have been shown to cause gut microbiota imbalance , characterized by reduced beneficial bacterial population and increased pathogenic bacterial population. A low-fiber diet-induced reduced production of short-chain fatty acids by gut microbiota has been found to suppress the production of mucus, antimicrobial proteins, and regulatory T cells, leading to an alteration in gut barrier permeability.
Western diet is associated with increased production of trimethylamine N-oxide , which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Gut microbiota imbalance caused by a Western diet has been found to increase functional capacity to harvest energy and produce cardio-toxic chemicals, which collectively increase the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.