During a recent study, researchers at UC San Francisco found that an extremely low-calorie diet alters the composition of the microbiota present in the human gut. Changes in diet, such as calorie restriction or shift in macronutrient intake like going keto or low-carb can impact the overall composition of the gut microbiome.
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According to researchers, dieting results in an increased population of Clostridioides difficile, a specific bacteria which is associated with antibiotic-induced diarrhea and colitis. These bacteria affect the body's energy balance by exerting an influence on the absorption of nutrients from the gut.
To explore the effects of dieting the team studied participants who were slightly overweight or severely obese for a duration of 16 weeks. Regular stool sample analysis showed that dieting reduced the number of microorganisms present in the gut and changed the composition of the gut microbiome.
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