Metabolism of non-digestible dietary carbohydrates

Human gut microbiota (HGM) is a complex functional ecosystem with different biological functions and any alteration in its composition can affect different aspects of human health. Diet is an external factor that can affect the HGM composition and metabolic functions therefore the consumption of specific food ingredients ensures the incorporation of substrates for fermentation by intestinal bacteria. Here, we review the pathways of metabolism of dietary carbohydrates including dietary fiber, selected prebiotics and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) by gut microbiota. Metabolites originated by intestinal microbiota fermentation and their beneficial effects for the host health have been widely described.