What happened: South Asia gut microbiome reference database and rural–urban comparisons

A research team reports building the first reference database of gut microbiome profiles across South Asia. The team sampled 575 adults from 10 communities in India and Sri Lanka and compared gut microbiome patterns across different lifestyles.

The research design compares remote/foraging or early-agricultural communities with relatives who migrated to cities and consumed more processed foods. To reduce the influence of inherited differences, the team verifies genetic similarity using genome sequencing, supporting an interpretation focused on environmental factors such as diet and food processing.

What the study finds: gut bacteria differences tied to urban diets and food processing

The study reports that some gut bacteria show higher abundance in urban individuals. The study also reports that bacteria linked to fibre intake are reduced with urbanisation in most settings.

Megamonas is reported as more abundant in urban individuals, and the study associates higher Megamonas abundance with obesity, raised blood glucose, and hypertension. Holdemanella is reported as linked to fibre intake and better glucose tolerance, and the study reports that Holdemanella appears lost with urbanisation in most settings, with Kerala reported as an exception.

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