Researchers Find Fiber Deficiency Triggers Gut Bacteria to Eat Intestinal Lining

New studies reveal that when dietary fiber is scarce, certain gut bacteria can turn to the protective mucus lining of the intestines as a food source. The research, conducted by Jenna AbuSalim and Joshua Rabinowitz at Ludwig Princeton, showed that both fiber and specific plant proteins help keep microbes on a healthier metabolic path and prevent them from degrading the gut barrier.

One paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined phenolic metabolites derived from amino‑acid breakdown, while a companion article in Nature Metabolism highlighted how diet reshapes microbial chemistry and influences compounds linked to intestinal health, body weight, and systemic toxicity. The findings suggest that a plant‑based diet may protect the gut by supplying the nutrients bacteria need, reducing the risk of them consuming host cells.