Impact of energy restriction of ultra-processed foods on the intestinal microbiota of individuals with obesity
The study aimed to evaluate the impact of recommended energy restriction of ultra-processed foods compared to generic energy restriction on the intestinal microbiota of individuals with obesity. The randomized clinical trial lasted six months and involved 43 adult individuals (19-60 years old), of both sexes, with obesity, and who wanted to lose weight. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: those in the intervention group received a diet with specific energy restriction for ultra-processed foods, limiting their consumption to less than 5% of total daily energy, while participants in the control group received a diet with generic energy restriction, with no specific focus on reducing ultra-processed foods, prioritizing the reduction of food portions in general. For analysis of the intestinal microbiota, a stool collection kit was provided for self-collection and subsequent sending to the company BiomeHub. In the laboratory, amplicon sequencing analyses of the 16S rRNA gene (v3/v4 region) were performed to identify the bacteria present in the samples. After sequencing, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, richness, alpha diversity (Shannon, Simpson and Inverse Simpson indexes) and beta diversity, using the Bray-Curtis index, among other parameters, were analyzed. These analyses allowed a detailed assessment of changes in the microbiota composition throughout the study.