Ethnicity appears to influence the gut microbiome, and these differences may affect health and disease risk. However, the relationship between ethnicity and the gut microbiota is highly complex and is shaped by a wide range of interacting factors rather than genetics alone. People from different ethnic backgrounds often have distinct gut microbial patterns influenced by diet, culture, geography, lifestyle, migration history, early-life exposures, socioeconomic factors, antibiotic use and environmental conditions.

  1. Liang L, Zhang X, Nian X. The ethnicity and gut microbiota hypothesis: analysing multifactorial interactions and their health implications. Front. Microbial. 2026. 17: doi:10.3389/fmicb.2026.1765775
  2. Mallott EK, Sitarik AR, Leve LD, Cioffi C et al. Human microbiome variation associated with race and ethnicity emerges as early as 3 months of age. PLoS Biol. 2023. 21: doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3002230
  3. Dwiyanto J, Hussain MH, Reidpath D et al. Ethnicity influences the gut microbiota of individuals sharing a geographical location: a cross-sectional study from a middle-income country. Sci Rep. 2021. 29:11:2618. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82311-3
  4. Nayman EI, Schwartz BA, Polmann M et al. Differences in gut microbiota between Dutch and South-Asian Surinamese: potential implications for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sci Rep. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54769-4
  5. Soldán M, Argalášová Ľ, Hadvinová L, Galileo B, Babjaková J. The Effect of Dietary Types on Gut Microbiota Composition and Development of Non-Communicable Diseases: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2024. 17;16:3134. doi:10.3390/nu16183134
  6. Khine WWT, Haldar S, De Loi S, Lee YK. A single serving of mixed spices alters gut microflora composition: a dose-response randomised trial. Sci Rep. 2021. 28;11:11264. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90453-7
  7. Peng Y, Ao M, Dong B, Jiang Y, Yu L, Chen Z, Hu C, Xu R. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2021.15:4503-4525. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S327378
  8. Rondinella D, Raoul PC, Valeriani E et al. The Detrimental Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on the Human Gut Microbiome and Gut Barrier. Nutrients. 2025. 28;17:859. doi: 10.3390/nu17050859

About the Author: Fareeha Jay, RD

Fareeha is a Freelance Dietitian providing specialist advice to South Asians across the globe and has developed the South Asian Eatwell Guide.

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Ethnicity appears to influence the gut microbiome, and these differences may affect health and disease risk. However, the relationship between ethnicity and the gut microbiota is highly complex and is shaped by a wide range of interacting factors rather than genetics alone. People from different ethnic backgrounds often have distinct gut microbial patterns influenced by diet, culture, geography, lifestyle, migration history, early-life exposures, socioeconomic factors, antibiotic use and environmental conditions.

  1. Liang L, Zhang X, Nian X. The ethnicity and gut microbiota hypothesis: analysing multifactorial interactions and their health implications. Front. Microbial. 2026. 17: doi:10.3389/fmicb.2026.1765775
  2. Mallott EK, Sitarik AR, Leve LD, Cioffi C et al. Human microbiome variation associated with race and ethnicity emerges as early as 3 months of age. PLoS Biol. 2023. 21: doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3002230
  3. Dwiyanto J, Hussain MH, Reidpath D et al. Ethnicity influences the gut microbiota of individuals sharing a geographical location: a cross-sectional study from a middle-income country. Sci Rep. 2021. 29:11:2618. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82311-3
  4. Nayman EI, Schwartz BA, Polmann M et al. Differences in gut microbiota between Dutch and South-Asian Surinamese: potential implications for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sci Rep. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54769-4
  5. Soldán M, Argalášová Ľ, Hadvinová L, Galileo B, Babjaková J. The Effect of Dietary Types on Gut Microbiota Composition and Development of Non-Communicable Diseases: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2024. 17;16:3134. doi:10.3390/nu16183134
  6. Khine WWT, Haldar S, De Loi S, Lee YK. A single serving of mixed spices alters gut microflora composition: a dose-response randomised trial. Sci Rep. 2021. 28;11:11264. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90453-7
  7. Peng Y, Ao M, Dong B, Jiang Y, Yu L, Chen Z, Hu C, Xu R. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2021.15:4503-4525. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S327378
  8. Rondinella D, Raoul PC, Valeriani E et al. The Detrimental Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on the Human Gut Microbiome and Gut Barrier. Nutrients. 2025. 28;17:859. doi: 10.3390/nu17050859

About the Author: Fareeha Jay, RD

Fareeha is a Freelance Dietitian providing specialist advice to South Asians across the globe and has developed the South Asian Eatwell Guide.

Leave A Comment

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