AUTHOR=Cui Zeying , Li Jingtai , Zhen Yuting , Fan Pingming , Du Guankui 

TITLE=The Effect of Whole-Grain Diet on the Gut Microbiota of the Elderly Individuals

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.919838

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.919838

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p>A whole-grain (WG) diet affects human health in multiple ways. However, the effect of WG on the gut microbiota of the elderly individuals is still largely unknown. In this study, WG did not affect the microbial α-diversity but had a profound impact on the microbes' abundance in the elderly individuals. WG increased the abundance of <italic>Verrucomicrobia</italic> and decreased the abundance of <italic>Firmicutes</italic>. The prediction of microbial function showed that glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism were inhibited. In addition, the effects of WG on the gut microbiota of normal-weight (NW) and overweight (OW) individuals were different. WG increased <italic>Verrucomicrobia</italic> in the NW group and decreased <italic>Firmicutes</italic> in the OW group. Meanwhile, the effect of WG on gut microbiota showed gender characteristics, <italic>Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes</italic> ratio was decreased in women, while <italic>Verrucomicrobia</italic> abundance was increased in men. The use of WG could improve the microbial composition and promote the growth of beneficial microbes, which may be beneficial to the health of the elderly individuals.</p>