Effect of Diet on Intestinal Microbiota and Obesity Markers in Adults

Human gut microbiota composition and its bacterial pathways are involved in many metabolic processes, including digestion of actually indigestible food components and fat storage. Due to that it may contributes to the developement of obesity being one of the most important risk factors for many chronic diseases. Gut microbiota is under the influence of nutrition, consumption of pro- and prebiotics can promote the growth of certain bacterial strains. In a cross over dietary intervention this work will investigate the effect of defined diets on the intestinal microbiota in 20 healthy adults. The diets contain either high amounts (more than 40g/d) of dietary fibre and low red meat (less than 30g/d) or low amounts (less than 20g/d) of dietary fibre and high amounts of red meat (200g/d). Intervention periods last 3 weeks each interrupted by a 3 weeks wash out period. Examination of participants will happen at the beginning and at the end of both interventions and will contain anthropometry, blood sample, faecal sample, urine sample and saliva sample.

Inclusion criteria

• age 20 to 60
• obtained informed consent
• willing and able to consume defined diets
• willing and able to collect all intended samples

Exclusion criteria

• prevalent chronic disease, i.e. diabetes (type 1 and 2), cardiovascular diseases, cancer
• Antibiotic treatment within the last three month before start of studies
• Prevalent gastrointestinal diseases, disorders and surgeries
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding