Habitual dietary intake is a major determinant of the species composition and functional output of the trillions of microorganisms residing in the human gut. Diet influences which microbes will colonise, flourish or disappear throughout life. An increase in polyphenols, oligosaccharides and fibre, which are all components found in a fruit and vegetable-rich diet, have long been associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases. Many of the benefits induced by this type of diet result from the interaction of these dietary components with the gut microbiome, where they selectively enrich specific microbial species and increase microbial diversity. Understanding the interaction of habitual dietary patterns on the gut microbiome will lead to rational dietary manipulation to improve human health through prevention and treatment of disease.
Keywords: Microbiome; fibre; plant-rich diet; polyphenol; short chain fatty acids.