Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Exploring gut microbiome diversity and the nutrition transition in Brazil

University of São Paulo, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is undergoing a rapid nutrition transition, marked by increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods and changing food environments across urban and rural regions. This talk explores how these dietary shifts are reflected in the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome, drawing on data from multiple populations across Brazil. We examine gut microbial profiles from urban farmers in São Paulo, riverine communities in the Amazon, and peri-urban residents in Belém, highlighting contrasts in microbiome diversity and taxa associated with traditional versus industrialised dietary patterns. These findings help us understand how food production systems, dietary quality, and local food environments influence gut microbial resilience or loss, and their impact on human health.

Keywords: Human health

Contact Address: Chris Hoffmann, University of São Paulo, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil, e-mail: c.hoffmannusp.br