Low Ultra Processed Food (UPF) Diets May Result in More Distinct Gut Microbiome Profiles Between Asthmatic and Non-Asthmatic Individuals Compared to High-UPF Diets

Abstract

Allergies and asthma are increasingly prevalent in developed countries and are linked by shared immunoregulatory pathways, which are influenced by the composition of the gut microbiome. While evidence suggests that diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPF) affect the gut microbiome and contribute to inflammation, the specific impact of UPF consumption on microbiome diversity and its role in the development of conditions like asthma and allergies remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between UPF consumption and gut microbiome composition in individuals with asthma or allergies. Beta diversity analysis revealed that UPF consumption influenced gut microbiome composition, regardless of the presence of asthma or allergies. Interestingly, the relationship between UPF consumption and asthma was a significant factor in shaping gut microbiome diversity, whereas no such relationship was observed with allergies. These findings underscore the role of UPF consumption in shaping gut microbiome diversity. Asthma was associated with reduced alpha diversity in both high and low UPF diets, with the reduction being more pronounced in the low-UPF group. This suggests that UPF consumption may modulate asthma's impact on the gut microbiome. Furthermore, the core microbiomes of asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals in the high-UPF group shared a greater number of unique taxa, indicating that high UPF consumption may homogenize the microbiome in relation to the presence of asthma. Additionally, the relative abundance of certain bacterial families was significantly altered by the presence of asthma in both dietary groups, with distinct patterns observed via ANCOM analysis. Overall, these results suggest that a low-UPF diet may lead to more distinct gut microbiome profiles between individuals with and without asthma. This study contributes to the growing body of research on the relationship between diet, the gut microbiome, and inflammatory conditions such as asthma. Importantly, it provides insights into potential public health strategies and dietary interventions to promote a healthy gut and immune system, helping to prevent the development of such health conditions.