Diet, gut microbiota, and health: a review

The relationship between diet and human physical and mental health is highly interconnected and has been significantly correlated with the occurrence of various diseases, including neurological disorders, cancer, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, diet has been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in governing gut microbiota composition, making it one of the most influential factors. The diet is crucial in connecting humans and their gut microorganisms. The nutrients ingested supply energy to the body and serve as substrates for the metabolic processes of the gut microorganisms. Consequently, the gut flora and their metabolites reciprocally impact the host’s metabolism, thereby influencing the physiological state of the human body. Extensive investigations on human and mouse models have revealed that diet potentially underlies various effects on human health and disease.