PubMed · 2026-06-10
A tiny molecule found in citrus fruit can reshape the gut's bacterial community and improve metabolic health in mice eating a high-fat diet, suggesting that compounds in everyday citrus foods may actively guide which microbes thrive in our digestive systems.
Crt-miR166a significantly increased the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria, including Bacteroides and Acetatifactor, in high-fat diet-fed mice.
The citrus microRNA elevated levels of three short-chain fatty acids — acetic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid — which are key fuels for gut-lining cells and markers of microbiome health.
Crt-miR166a promoted production of three tryptophan-derived indole compounds (indole-3-aldehyde, indole-3-propionic acid, indole-3-acetamide) while reshaping bile acid profiles, both linked to reduced gut inflammation.
