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Dietary exclusion of major food groups shapes the gut microbiome and may influence health

Characterization of gut metagenomes from 21,561 volunteers on omnivore, vegetarian or vegan diets shows how major food groups may shape the gut microbiome not only through the selection of microbes that aid in digestion, but also through the acquisition of microbes from foods themselves.

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Fig. 1: Highly distinguishable gut microbiomes between diet patterns and the contribution of food-derived microbes to the gut microbiomes of omnivores, vegetarians and vegans.

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This is a summary of: Fackelmann, G. et al. Gut microbiome signatures of vegan, vegetarian and omnivore diets and associated health outcomes across 21,561 individuals. Nat. Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01870-z (2025).

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Dietary exclusion of major food groups shapes the gut microbiome and may influence health. Nat Microbiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01875-8

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