Plant-based diets are consistently associated with improved gut health, yet the mechanisms responsible remain incompletely understood. Here, we explore two aspects of plant-based foods: digestion-resistant carbohydrate (fiber) and digestion-resistant protein (which we term Prif). Because they resist mammalian digestion, both fiber and Prif pass through the host small intestine to feed the colonic microbiome. In this work, we show that these two components of a plant-based diet work together to rewire microbial metabolism to produce beneficial rather than noxious phenol metabolites.
Google this: Meat-based and high-protein diets promote the generation of harmful, noxious phenol metabolites in the gut. [1]
Significance:
Plant-based diets are consistently associated with improved gut health, yet the mechanisms responsible remain incompletely understood. Here, we explore two aspects of plant-based foods: digestion-resistant carbohydrate (fiber) and digestion-resistant protein (which we term Prif). Because they resist mammalian digestion, both fiber and Prif pass through the host small intestine to feed the colonic microbiome. In this work, we show that these two components of a plant-based diet work together to rewire microbial metabolism to produce beneficial rather than noxious phenol metabolites.
Google this: Meat-based and high-protein diets promote the generation of harmful, noxious phenol metabolites in the gut. [1]