What is the link between the plants we eat and the quality of our intestinal microbiota? Although it remains low, researchers have shown for the first time a positive influence of fruit and vegetable consumption on the bacterial diversity of the intestine.
Bacteria present in fruits and vegetables can colonize the human intestine and contribute positively to the diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Researchers have just provided proof for the first time, in a meta-study published in the journal Gut Microbes. They explain that the presence of genes associated with the production of vitamins andshort chain fatty acidsshort chain fatty acids in fruits and vegetables could justify this benefit on microbial diversity, which plays an important role in health.
The impact of agricultural practices on the intestinal microbiota
For the study, the researchers first created a catalog of data on the microbiomemicrobiome of 156 fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, two human studies provided data on the microbiota of babies and adults – from around 2,500 stool samples – as well as their diet. Ultimately, bacteria associated with fruits and vegetables are rarely found in the human intestine, representing approximately 2.2% of overall bacterial diversity. The authors explain that the age of the host, the frequency of vegetable consumption and the diversity of plants consumed were factors favoring a higher proportion.
Additionally, the use of good agricultural practices is crucial for health. “ All factors that influence the microbiotamicrobiota nativenative of fruits and vegetables, i.e. agricultural practices, breeding and post-harvest treatments, can directly or indirectly affect the composition of the intestinal microbiota “, said the researchers.
