Mice fed a Western-style diet cannot rebuild a healthy, balanced gut microbiome after antibiotic treatment, flag researchers from the University of Chicago, US. However, on a diet that mimics a Mediterranean diet, the mice were able to restore a healthy and resilient gut microbiome after antibiotics quickly. In addition, mice eating a high-fat, low-fiber Western-style diet were more susceptible to infection by pathogens like Salmonella. The researchers note that these mice had a lower variety of microbes in the digestive system and metabolites, which increases the risk for immune system-related conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease.
