Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free Diet
The human exposome, including dietary exposures such as pesticides, additives, and environmental contaminants, plays a critical role in shaping the gut microbiota (GM) and long-term health outcomes. While the Mediterranean Diet is known for its health-promoting effects, the role of food quality, spe...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1694 |
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| author | Laura Di Renzo Giulia Frank Barbara Pala Rossella Cianci Giada La Placa Glauco Raffaelli Roselisa Palma Daniele Peluso Antonino De Lorenzo Paola Gualtieri on behalf of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Project Group |
| author_facet | Laura Di Renzo Giulia Frank Barbara Pala Rossella Cianci Giada La Placa Glauco Raffaelli Roselisa Palma Daniele Peluso Antonino De Lorenzo Paola Gualtieri on behalf of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Project Group |
| author_sort | Laura Di Renzo |
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| description | The human exposome, including dietary exposures such as pesticides, additives, and environmental contaminants, plays a critical role in shaping the gut microbiota (GM) and long-term health outcomes. While the Mediterranean Diet is known for its health-promoting effects, the role of food quality, specifically organic vs. conventional products, in modulating GM within this dietary pattern remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate (1) whether an Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet (IMOD) confers additional benefits compared to an Italian Mediterranean non-Organic Diet (IMnOD), and (2) the impact of IMOD and IMnOD versus a free diet (No Diet) on GM and anthropometric parameters. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 39 healthy subjects. Eligible subjects were divided into the following groups: (1) 4 weeks No Diet, (2) 4 weeks IMOD, and (3) 4 weeks IMnOD. Microbiota profiling (16S rRNA sequencing), body composition (BIA), and dietary adherence (MEDAS, FFQ) were evaluated. Distinct microbial shifts following both IMOD and IMnOD compared to No Diet were revealed. Several taxa previously associated with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) biosynthesis (i.e., <i>Anaerobutyricum hallii</i>, <i>Anaerostipes hadrus</i>, and <i>Dorea longicatena</i>) were increased after both Mediterranean Diet interventions, while <i>Parabacteroides distasonis</i> showed a specific increase in the IMOD group. No significant changes in body weight or composition were observed. These findings suggest that adherence to a Mediterranean Diet, regardless of food source, reshapes the gut microbiota, while organic food intake may influence specific microbial trajectories. Our results support the relevance of food quality in dietary interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-94a883b46e3c430b8dc388f07aa5d6db |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-94a883b46e3c430b8dc388f07aa5d6db2025-08-20T03:56:45ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-07-01137169410.3390/microorganisms13071694Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free DietLaura Di Renzo0Giulia Frank1Barbara Pala2Rossella Cianci3Giada La Placa4Glauco Raffaelli5Roselisa Palma6Daniele Peluso7Antonino De Lorenzo8Paola Gualtieri9on behalf of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Project GroupSection of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyPhD School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyPhD School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, ItalyPhD School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyPhD School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyPhD School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyPhD School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalySection of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalySection of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyThe human exposome, including dietary exposures such as pesticides, additives, and environmental contaminants, plays a critical role in shaping the gut microbiota (GM) and long-term health outcomes. While the Mediterranean Diet is known for its health-promoting effects, the role of food quality, specifically organic vs. conventional products, in modulating GM within this dietary pattern remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate (1) whether an Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet (IMOD) confers additional benefits compared to an Italian Mediterranean non-Organic Diet (IMnOD), and (2) the impact of IMOD and IMnOD versus a free diet (No Diet) on GM and anthropometric parameters. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 39 healthy subjects. Eligible subjects were divided into the following groups: (1) 4 weeks No Diet, (2) 4 weeks IMOD, and (3) 4 weeks IMnOD. Microbiota profiling (16S rRNA sequencing), body composition (BIA), and dietary adherence (MEDAS, FFQ) were evaluated. Distinct microbial shifts following both IMOD and IMnOD compared to No Diet were revealed. Several taxa previously associated with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) biosynthesis (i.e., <i>Anaerobutyricum hallii</i>, <i>Anaerostipes hadrus</i>, and <i>Dorea longicatena</i>) were increased after both Mediterranean Diet interventions, while <i>Parabacteroides distasonis</i> showed a specific increase in the IMOD group. No significant changes in body weight or composition were observed. These findings suggest that adherence to a Mediterranean Diet, regardless of food source, reshapes the gut microbiota, while organic food intake may influence specific microbial trajectories. Our results support the relevance of food quality in dietary interventions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1694mediterranean dietorganic foodgut microbiotaexposomebody composition |
| spellingShingle | Laura Di Renzo Giulia Frank Barbara Pala Rossella Cianci Giada La Placa Glauco Raffaelli Roselisa Palma Daniele Peluso Antonino De Lorenzo Paola Gualtieri on behalf of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Project Group Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free Diet Microorganisms mediterranean diet organic food gut microbiota exposome body composition |
| title | Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free Diet |
| title_full | Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free Diet |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free Diet |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free Diet |
| title_short | Effects of Italian Mediterranean Organic Diet on the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Comparative Study with Conventional Products and Free Diet |
| title_sort | effects of italian mediterranean organic diet on the gut microbiota a pilot comparative study with conventional products and free diet |
| topic | mediterranean diet organic food gut microbiota exposome body composition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1694 |
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