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The gut microbiome and dietary fibres: implications in obesity, cardiometabolic diseases and cancer

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 23, pages 225–238 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Dietary fibres constitute a heterogeneous class of nutrients that are key in the prevention of various chronic diseases. Most dietary fibres are fermented by the gut microbiome and may, thereby, modulate the gut microbial ecology and metabolism, impacting human health. Dietary fibres may influence the occurrence of specific bacterial taxa, with this effect varying between individuals. The effect of dietary fibres on microbial diversity is a matter of debate. Most intervention studies with dietary fibres in the context of obesity and related metabolic disorders reveal the need for an accurate assessment of the microbiome to better understand the variable response to dietary fibres. Epidemiological studies confirm that a high dietary fibre intake is strongly associated with a reduced occurrence of many types of cancer. However, there is a need to determine the impact of intervention with specific dietary fibres on cancer risk, therapy efficacy and toxicity, as well as in cancer cachexia. In this Review, we summarize the mechanisms by which the gut microbiome can mediate the physiological benefits of dietary fibres in the contexts of obesity, cardiometabolic diseases and cancer, their incidence being clearly linked to low dietary fibre intake.

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Fig. 1: Dietary fibres at the cross-section of the interactions between the gut and other organs.
Fig. 2: Structure of dietary fibres and their metabolism by the gut microbiota.
Fig. 3: Mechanisms by which dietary fibres promote gut microbial-dependent systemic effects.
Fig. 4: Proposed mechanisms explaining the effect of dietary fibres and associated metabolites on cancer.

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Acknowledgements

L.B.B. is a Collen-Francqui Research Professor and is grateful for the support of the Francqui Fondation. N.M.D. is a recipient of grants from the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FRS)‐FNRS (grant numbers: PINT‐MULTI R.8013.19 (NEURON, call 2019), PDR T.0068.19 and PDR T008524).

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  1. Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

    Nathalie M. Delzenne, Laure B. Bindels & Audrey M. Neyrinck

  2. WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium

    Laure B. Bindels

  3. APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Jens Walter

  4. Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Jens Walter

  5. School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Jens Walter

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Delzenne, N.M., Bindels, L.B., Neyrinck, A.M. et al. The gut microbiome and dietary fibres: implications in obesity, cardiometabolic diseases and cancer. Nat Rev Microbiol 23, 225–238 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-024-01108-z

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