Effect of resistant starch supplementation on the diversity and composition of human gut microbiota: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Resistant starch (RS) has attracted much researchers' attention because of its health-beneficial effects. Gut microbiota obviously shapes human health, but the effects of RS supplementation on the changes of human gut microbiota remain unclear. This observational meta-analysis aimed to reveal the effects of RS intake on alpha diversity and composition of gut microbiota through meta-analysis. Two independent authors systematically searched articles from inception until February 2023 on four electronic databases. Twenty-four highly relevant trials were included conforming to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis protocol, and a total of 816 individuals were included. Significant heterogeneity analyses revealed that RS intake notably decreased Shannon index (WMD: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.21, -0.01), and stimulated the composition of health promoting bacteria genera,