Dietary composition and fasting regimens differentially impact the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid profile in a Pakistani cohort
Both fasting regimens impacted gut microbiome and metabolic signatures, but Ramadan fasting showed a more drastic effect due to the 30 days compliance period and water restriction than intermittent fasting. Ramadan fasting also improved metabolic health by increasing the abundance of SCFA-producing microbes. With Ramadan fasting, most microbial taxa reverted to their prefasting state after resumption of normal feeding patterns with few exceptions, indicating impact on microbial niche creation with prolonged fasting regimens that benefit <i>Enterococcus, Turibacter</i>, and <i>Klebsiella</i> colonization. The dietary regimen adopted during fasting, especially the consumption of high-fat-content food items, accounted for persistent gut microbial changes.
Authors
- Konstantinos Gerasimidis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9432-2200)
- Arshan Nasir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7200-0788)
- Hilde Herrema (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0112-6348)
- Mark Davids (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3081-9124)
- Sundus Javed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8352-8078)
- Aqsa Ameer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7020-8152)
- Umer Zeeshan Ijaz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5780-8551)
- Farzana Gul
Institutions
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- COMSATS University Islamabad (PK)
- Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
- Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GB)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Systems Biology
- Published
- 2025-10-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fsysb.2025.1622753
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.16
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- Higher Education Commision, Pakistan
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council