Nasser Salem ALQAHTANI
Annals of Clinical and Analytical Medicine - 2026;17(6):648-654
Current evidence highlights the importance of the gut microbiota in connecting the metabolic responses of dietary interventions. A scoping review systematically mapped and synthesized the evidence from 49 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the mediating effect of changes in gut microbiota. Databases were searched for RCTs involving adult participants that reported on both gut microbiota and metabolic outcomes. Eligible studies included defined dietary interventions. Interventions were found to alter microbiome diversity reliably and boost the prevalence of beneficial organisms (such as Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Akkermansia muciniphila). Improvements in insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, inflammatory biomarkers, and hepatic fat content are often accompanied by such microbial alterations. Fifteen studies provided direct evidence that dietary modulation of the microbiota leads to quantifiable metabolic effects. Current RCT evidence supports the potential of dietary interventions to modulate the gut microbiota and promote metabolic health. Findings highlight the potential of microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions within precision medicine and public health policy, as well as the need for longer-term, mechanistically detailed, and geographically diverse trials.
