Dietary Nutrition, Gut Microbiota, and Health Status Across Geographically Diverse Populations in Mongolia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Until recently, nomadic nomadism has been the dominant culture in Mongolia. Dietary patterns have evolved to fit this culture and ensure the health of people. This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the key role of dietary nutrition in maintaining the health of the Mongolian population and its impact on gut microbiota. Meanwhile, the correlations between the gut microbiota, dietary nutrition, and health status of the Mongolian population were explored. This study revealed distinct patterns in the dietary structures of urban and nomadic populations. During winter, urban populations consume more fruits, vegetables, and egg products, whereas nomads consume more dairy products. The intake of nutrients such as energy, protein, and carbohydrates, and blood indices such as blood glucose and total cholesterol (TC) of nomadic populations were found to be significantly higher than those of urban residents (p < 0.05), and these nutrients exhibited significant correlations with the blood indices. Furthermore, the influence of both region and season on the gut microbiota of the Mongolian population with regional disparities was greater than that of seasonal variations. In winter, the gut microbiota composition of nomadic populations differed significantly from that of urban populations, as evidenced by a decrease in Bacteroides, Phocaeicola, Phocaeicola vulgatus, Bacteroides uniformis, and Lachnospira eligens and an increase in Firmicutes, Alistipes, Dorea, Ruminococcus torques, and Dorea formicigenerans (p < 0.05). Additionally, lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium sp. were abundant in the gut of the Mongolian population, which present promising opportunities for developing and utilizing unique probiotic resources in Mongolia. The study also found correlations between microbial species and blood indices, as well as nutrients, providing novel evidence to support the complex relationships between gut microbiota, nutrition, and health status in the Mongolian population. Overall, this study revealed significant differences in dietary nutrition, gut microbiota, and health status among geographically diverse populations in Mongolia and contributed to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between gut microbiota, nutrition, and health among Mongolians.