Low-fiber diets may push gut microbes to eat mucus; indigestible plant proteins could steer healthier outputs

When dietary fiber runs low, gut microbes may degrade the gut’s mucus lining and produce harmful phenol metabolites; however, indigestible plant proteins (Prif) along with fiber shift microbial metabolism toward beneficial phenols, while host metabolism can also generate many indole and phenol metabolites, suggesting diet- and metabolism-based strategies to modulate gut biochemistry and health.