Fiber-rich Diets Are Related With Lower Antibiotic Resistance in Gut Microbes

As shown in a new study, healthy individuals who eat a diversified diet containing at least 8-10 grams of soluble fiber per day had less antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their stomachs.

The findings imply that altering one's diet has the potential to be a new weapon in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.

And this does not need following some unusual diet, but rather following a broad, fiber-rich diet that many Americans currently follow.

Diets high in fiber in gut bacteria

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Resistance to various antibacterial drugs, such as tetracycline and aminoglycoside, is a substantial measure of danger for people around the world, with the broadly believed assumption that the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which refers to bacteria, viruses, and fungi that are resistant to antibiotics, will worsen over the coming decades, as per ScienceDaily.

People's antimicrobial resistance is mostly dependent on their gut microbiome, where microorganisms are known to possess genetically encoded ways to survive drug interaction.

And the findings imply that changing one's diet has the potential to be a new weapon in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.

And we're not talking about some exotic cuisine here, but a broad, fiber-rich diet that many Americans currently follow, according to study leader Danielle Lemay of the ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, California.

The researchers were seeking precise connections between the levels of antibiotic resistance genes in human gut bacteria and fiber and animal protein in adult diets in this investigation.

The researchers discovered that consuming a diet high in fiber and low in protein, particularly beef and pig, was strongly associated with reduced levels of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) in their gut microorganisms.

Those with the lowest levels of ARG in their gut microbiomes had a higher abundance of strictly anaerobic microorganisms, which are bacteria that do not survive in the presence of oxygen and are a sign of a healthy gut with low inflammation.

Bacterial species from the Clostridiaceae family were the most abundant anaerobes discovered.

Soluble fiber, as the name implies, dissolves in the water and is the major form of fiber found in wheat like barley and oats; legumes like beans, lentils, and peas; seeds (like chia seeds) and nuts; and some fruits and vegetables including carrots, berries, artichokes, broccoli, and winter squash.

On the other hand, those with the highest levels of ARG in their gut microbiomes were shown to have considerably less varied gut microbiomes when compared to groups with low and medium levels of ARG.

Also Read: The 6 Best Ways to Improve Your Gut Health

Gut health

A slew of unseen microbes lives in your intestines.

Scientists refer to this microbiome as the gut microbiome, as per Healthline. These species are mostly fungus, viruses, and parasites, with a few bacteria thrown in for good measure.

Some of these microorganisms are linked to certain illnesses and disorders, while others are beneficial to your health and digestion.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a varied range of bacteria in your gut improves its performance.

Eating foods that stimulate the growth of "good" bacteria and fungus can help your gut's microbiome stay balanced.

Many high fiber meals, known as prebiotics, promote the growth of these beneficial bacteria in the stomach.