Understanding of the efficacy of gut microbiota-directed foods on human health

The gut microbiota (GM) in the healthy state is significantly different from that in the disease state, and diet is one of vital factors affecting gut microbiota. The concept of microbiota-directed foods (MDFs) has promoted the importance of GM as a target for disease treatment. In this review, studies related to MDFs in recent years were sorted out, and the logic and significance of MDFs research were expounded based on the discovery of key GM under diseases, the mechanism of key GM, the analysis of main components in MDFs, and their possible mechanism of action. Under MDFs intervention, significant improvement on disease phenotypes and disordered GM has been observed, and its clinical efficacy and feasibility are better than those of the recommended diet. MDFs preferentially contain macromolecular polysaccharide compounds as carbohydrate sources that can be used by GM. Screening of key GM and the targeted regulation of the GM can offer additional insights into the macroscopic regulation of gut health.