DIETAS VEGETARIANAS E MICROBIOTA INTESTINAL: IMPACTOS E IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A SAÚDE HUMANA – UMA REVISÃO ATUALIZADA

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.019122528045

• Palavras-chave: Dieta vegana; Dieta a base de plantas; Dieta vegetariana; Microbiota intestinal; Microbioma intestinal; Flora intestinal

• Keywords: Vegan diet; Plant-based diet; Vegetarian diet; Gut microbiota; Gut microbiome; Gut flora.

• Abstract: Vegetarian diets have been associated with beneficial effects on health and the composition of the gut microbiota, the profile of which influences digestive, immunological, and metabolic functions. This study had the main objective of reviewing the existing literature on the effects of vegetarian diets on the intestinal microbial composition and their impacts on human health. An integrative review was carried out with searches in the virtual scientific repositories, PubMed and BVS, selecting nine studies published between 2016 to May 2025. The results indicated a greater abundance of beneficial bacteria in vegetarians, such as: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia spp., associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and better metabolic and inflammatory markers. However, the variations in microbial diversity observed in some of the analyzed research were small, substantially affected by aspects such as lifestyle and individual nutritional intake. It is concluded that vegetarian diets favor intestinal health and have the capacity to contribute to the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases. However, more extensive, longitudinal research with standardized methodologies is needed in order to validate these findings and better understand the mechanisms involved, in order to improve scientific knowledge and support the adoption of healthier and more ecological dietary patterns.