Investigation of the Effects of Dietary Fibres on the Gut Microbiome in a Transgenerational Cohort

Dietary fibres are complex carbohydrates present in fruit, vegetables, grains, and beans which are broken down into smaller molecules (short-chain fatty acids) in the colon by the gut microbiota. Increased intake of dietary fibres is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, or heart disease. Despite their health benefits, most people consume half of the daily recommended intake (30 grams) of dietary fibres. This trend has become more apparent in the past few decades with the advent of ultra-processed foods which are poor in dietary fibres. Since this change in dietary habits is more recent, the research team hypothesizes that older generations have a more diverse and better adapted gut microbiota at breaking down dietary fibres compared to younger generations. The aims of this study are to examine the effects of the daily intake over four weeks of a dietary fibres supplement on the gut microbiota, metabolic profiles, and general health in a transgenerational cohort (grandmother, mother and daughter OR mother and daughter) compared to cellulose control.