Microbiome crosstalk and nutrition: the interplay between gut microbiota-organ axis and dietary factors

The gut microbiota (GM) is referred to as the central organ due to its dynamic and adaptable contact network with other organs through humoral, immunological, metabolic, endocrine, and neurological pathways. Recent studies have emphasized the concept of the “gut-organ axis”, which shows that the effects of GM go beyond the gastrointestinal system (GIS) and encompass the reciprocal interactions between other organs. Communication along these axis occurs mainly through mediators such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), microbial metabolites, neurotransmitters, cytokines, and hormonal signals. Therefore, imbalances in GM may surpass gut problems and be linked to diseases affecting the brain, liver, lungs, heart, mouth, skin, and many other organs. Understanding these reciprocal interactions can inform strategies for disease prevention and treatment. Emerging evidence suggests that interactions between the GM and other organ-specific metabolites it secretes are dynamic and influenced by various environmental and lifestyle factors, particularly diet. The gut and other organ microbiomes are maintained in balance with the help of nutritional supplements like probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotic, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and dietary fiber. Consuming processed or red meat, high-fat, high-sugar, high-glycemic index foods, and excessive salt can upset this balance and raise the risk of systemic inflammation and disease. The purpose of this review is to examine the interactions between various organ-specific microbiomes in the human body, to elucidate the effects of these interactions on health, and to highlight how microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions can modulate these interactions, potentially affecting disease risk and overall metabolic homeostasis.