Switching to a protein-rich diet may change gut bacteria and aid weight lossShare on Pinterest
The composition of the gut microbiome is being increasingly recognized as essential for overall health and effective weight management.
A new study in mice suggests that protein-rich diets can influence gut bacteria and their byproducts, potentially affecting body weight and composition.
More research is needed, but the findings suggest that personalized diets based on an individual’s gut microbiome could promote better health outcomes in the future.
The gut microbiome is a complex community of microorganisms in our digestive system that affects nearly every aspect of our health, from digestion and immune function to metabolic processes and body weight.
As diet plays a significant role in shaping the composition and diversity of gut microorganisms, it has become increasingly important to understand how our food choices impact our gut’s ecosystem.
Western cultures are increasingly adopting high-protein diets, potentially driven by a growing body of research supporting high-protein diets for weight managementTrusted Source.
This trend has led researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago to investigate the impact of protein diets on gut microbiome diversity and body composition in a recent mouse study.
The study abstract was presented at ASM Microbe 2024, the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting, on June 15, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia.
The study also explored how protein fermented by gut bacteria in the colon can produce both beneficial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acidsTrusted Source, and harmful ones, like ammonia and sulfidesTrusted Source, which are associated with gastrointestinal disorders.
They found that shifting from a carbohydrate diet to various protein-rich diets in mice led to significant weight loss, reduced body fat, and rapid changes in gut microbiome composition.
Samson Adejumo, a doctoral candidate in biology at the University of Illinois Chicago, led the research. He told Medical News Today that this study has not yet undergone peer review, but the authors are preparing it for publication.
He added that it may appear in the Journal of Nutrition or Nutrient Reviews in the future.
Carbohydrate vs protein diets in mice
This short-term experimental study lasted four weeks and included 16 mice.
For the first two weeks, the mice were fed a regular carbohydrate diet. The researchers then switched the mice to four distinct protein diet groups for the remainder of the study:
standard protein diet
10% aromatic amino acid
10% branched-chain amino acid diet
5% aromatic amino acid and 5% branched-chain amino acid diet
The volume of each diet was the same and contained an equal amount of protein.
The researchers collected daily fecal samples and took weekly body composition measurements to monitor changes in body fat and muscle mass.
They extracted DNA from the fecal samples and analyzed it to observe how the mice’s gut bacteria changed throughout the study.
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Protein diets may affect microbiome, body composition, and weight
The study found that the gut microbiota responded differently to each type of diet, showing significant changes from the carbohydrate diet to the four different protein diets.
Using machine learning, researchers could predict with 97% accuracy which protein diet the mice were consuming just by looking at their gut bacteria.
For MNT, Adejumo elaborated on which protein diets specifically resulted in the greatest fat mass and body weight reductions.
“A combination of 5% branched-chain amino acid with 5% Aromatic amino acids resulted in the lowest body weight, whereas [10% aromatic amino acid diet] had the lowest percentage of fat mass but the highest weight increase,” he said.
“These results imply that beyond the type of diet, the type of gut microbiome that metabolizes the diet is much more important. The gut microbiome metabolism of the diet has the biggest impact on the host body composition.”
— Samson Adejumo, lead researcher
“The result of weight [and] body composition is unexpected because branched-chain amino acids are involved in muscle protein building and we would expect that an increase in [branched-chain amino acid] intake will increase lean mass and not fat mass,” he said.
Further research is needed to confirm if the protein diets caused all the observed changes in body composition and gut bacteria in mice.
However, the predictable patterns identified by the researchers suggest a link between the protein diets and changes in the gut microbiome.
How do changes in gut microbiota relate to weight loss?
Adejumo explained how the observed changes in gut microbiota may relate to body composition and weight loss.
He said aromatic amino acidsTrusted Source, primarily involved as precursors of neurotransmitters, are essential for maintaining the body’s normal biological functions.
“In contrast, branched-chain amino acids are involved in maintaining muscle function and producing proteins in muscle development.”
He further explained:
“Changes in the gut microbiome reflect the bioavailability of the essential ingredients to the gut microbiome. Whenever a gut microbiome can utilize the diet ingredients, it will positively affect the body composition particularly, the fat mass and lean mass.”
In essence, changes in gut microbiota can be influenced by the types and quantities of protein consumed, subsequently affecting body composition. This also implies that a healthy gut microbiome may be crucial for maintaining optimal body composition and weight.
MNT also spoke with Alyssa Simpson, RDN, CGN, CLT, a registered dietitian, certified gastrointestinal nutritionist, and owner of Nutrition Resolution in Phoenix, Arizona, who was not involved in the study.
“Changes in gut microbiota can significantly influence body composition and weight loss by altering how efficiently calories are extracted from food,” she stated.
She suggested, for example, that a higher ratio of certain bacteria may enhance calorie absorption, potentially contributing to weight gain.
Additionally, Simpson noted that “certain bacteria produce lipopolysaccharidesTrusted Source that may promote inflammation and fat accumulation, whereas beneficial bacteria may contribute to maintaining gut barrier integrityTrusted Source and regulating appetite through hormone and neurotransmitter production.”
What type of protein diet might best support gut health?
According to Simpson, more research is needed, but diets rich in certain proteins, particularly plant-based proteins, have been shown to improve human gut health and body composition.
“Plant-based protein diets promote gut health by supporting beneficial bacteria and regular bowel movements. They are generally lower in calories and saturated fats compared to animal-based diets, potentially aiding in weight management and reducing body fat.”
— Alyssa Simpson, RDN, CGN, CLT
Plant-based diets are also rich in dietary fibers, promoting the growth of microbial species that ferment fiberTrusted Source into beneficial metabolites like short-chain fatty acidsTrusted Source, which are associated with numerous health benefits.
Even though the body produces them, she also suggests getting dietary sources of amino acids like glutamine and arginine, which “contribute to maintaining a robust gut barrier, preventing harmful substances like lipopolysaccharides from entering the bloodstream and potentially influencing body composition.”
For those looking to enhance gut microbiome, overall health, and body composition through diet, Simpson recommends prioritizing “a rich variety of plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes.”
She also advises “moderate protein intake to maintain muscle and metabolic health without excessive unhealthy fats.”
Most importantly, “select a dietary approach that suits your personal preferences, health objectives, and lifestyle for sustainable results,” Simpson emphasized.
Future research directions
Adejumo said, as a next step, “we plan to do some functional analysis and perform some mechanistic experiments to be able to improve overall health.”
“We also intend to formulate our diets with single amino acids to fully understand the effect of individual amino acids on diet and identify specific gut microbial strains involved in protein fermentation,” he added.
While more research is needed and animal studies don’t directly translate to humans, learning how dietary protein fermentationTrusted Source affects gut bacteria could help inform the creation of personalized diets that modify the gut microbiome to promote better health and weight management outcomes.
“This concept of personalized nutritionTrusted Source holds promise for broader integration into healthcare practices, potentially revolutionizing how dietary advice is tailored to optimize health outcomes in diverse populations,” Simpson concluded.