Traditional diets shape unique gut microbes of Indian tribes
Researchers have identified that the gut microbiomes of eight Indian tribal populations are uniquely shaped by their traditional diets and differ significantly from industrialized populations. The study highlights the importance of preserving this microbial diversity in biobanks and notes that current global microbiome research under-represents indigenous communities.
Why it matters
Understanding the link between traditional diets and gut health is crucial for developing personalized nutrition and probiotic interventions that are effective for diverse populations.
The gut microbiomes of eight tribal populations across India have a unique diversity shaped by their traditional diets , and are distinct from those observed in industrialised settings, researchers have reported in Gut Microbiomes .
The effects of probiotics depend on a population’s diet and gut composition, and the study offers a baseline for India’s tribal communities. It also points to the research still needed before such interventions can be tailored effectively.
The study’s authors have also stressed a need to preserve these microbiomes in biobanks before the diversity disappears.
India has a large indigenous population that follows diverse diets based on location and culture. However, they are also under-represented in global human microbiome studies, making up less than 1% of the human microbiome samples.
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