Dietary fibre and the gut microbiome: implications for glucose homeostasis
File(s)
Author(s)
Pugh, Jennifer E
Chambers, Edward S
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Purpose of review:
Despite long-standing evidence linking dietary fibre intake to improved glycaemic control and reduced chronic disease risk, most individuals fail to meet recommended intake levels. As interest grows in the gut microbiota's role in mediating fibre's health effects, this review evaluates recent human intervention trials to assess whether dietary fibre improves glucose homeostasis through microbiota-dependent mechanisms.
Recent findings:
Nine recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the effects of dietary fibre on glycaemic markers and gut microbiota, primarily in individuals at risk of or diagnosed with metabolic disease. Five studies reported improvements in glycaemic outcomes such as fasting glucose, insulin, or HOMA-IR. Microbial responses were inconsistent, with variable effects on diversity and composition. Notably, improvements in markers of gut barrier integrity and systemic inflammation were consistently observed in studies including these as mechanistic outcomes.
Summary:
Although dietary fibre may enhance glycaemic control and modulate the gut microbiota, effects vary by fibre type, dose, population, and study design. Markers of gut barrier integrity and inflammation appear to be more reliable indicators of benefit compared with the assessments of gut microbial composition. Future trials should prioritise healthy populations to explore the potential of dietary fibre to maintain metabolic health.
Despite long-standing evidence linking dietary fibre intake to improved glycaemic control and reduced chronic disease risk, most individuals fail to meet recommended intake levels. As interest grows in the gut microbiota's role in mediating fibre's health effects, this review evaluates recent human intervention trials to assess whether dietary fibre improves glucose homeostasis through microbiota-dependent mechanisms.
Recent findings:
Nine recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the effects of dietary fibre on glycaemic markers and gut microbiota, primarily in individuals at risk of or diagnosed with metabolic disease. Five studies reported improvements in glycaemic outcomes such as fasting glucose, insulin, or HOMA-IR. Microbial responses were inconsistent, with variable effects on diversity and composition. Notably, improvements in markers of gut barrier integrity and systemic inflammation were consistently observed in studies including these as mechanistic outcomes.
Summary:
Although dietary fibre may enhance glycaemic control and modulate the gut microbiota, effects vary by fibre type, dose, population, and study design. Markers of gut barrier integrity and inflammation appear to be more reliable indicators of benefit compared with the assessments of gut microbial composition. Future trials should prioritise healthy populations to explore the potential of dietary fibre to maintain metabolic health.
Date Issued
2025-11-01
Date Acceptance
2025-08-01
Citation
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 2025, 28 (6), pp.483-488
ISSN
1363-1950
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Start Page
483
End Page
488
Journal / Book Title
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Volume
28
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CCBY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40889147
PII: 00075197-990000000-00240
Subjects
dietary fibre
glycaemic control
gut barrier integrity
gut microbiota
short-chain fatty acids
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2025-08-27