The Claim
Dietary diversity, measured as the phylogenetic diversity of food choices, is positively correlated with gut microbial alpha diversity in healthy U.S. adults, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.171.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In healthy adults in the United States, people who eat a wider variety of foods based on evolutionary relationships between those foods have a greater diversity of microbes in their gut.
See the scientific wording
Dietary diversity, measured as the phylogenetic diversity of food choices, is positively correlated with gut microbial alpha diversity in healthy U.S. adults, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.171.
When people eat a wide variety of plant foods, different types of fiber and starches reach the gut untouched by digestion. Specific bacteria that can break down each type of fiber grow better because they get the food they need. This causes more kinds of bacteria to live in the gut, increasing overall microbial diversity.
What the research says
1 studyPeople who eat a wider variety of foods tend to have more types of good bacteria in their gut, and this study found exactly that — the more diverse their diet, the more diverse their gut bacteria were.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.