An enterotype is a classification of living organisms based on its bacteriological ecosystem in the gut microbiome. Humans can be roughly divided into three enterotypes depending on which genus of bacteria dominates their gut: Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, or Prevotella.
- People who eat a lot of meat and saturated fat tended to have more Bacteroides in their flora.
- Ruminococcus prevailed in people who consumed lots of alcohol and polyunsaturated fats.
- Prevotella favored a diet rich in carbohydrates.
Long-term diet is strongly associated with the gut microbiome composition. If switching gut enterotype is possible, it may take a long-term dietary intervention.
Chimpanzees have enterotypes that are compositionally analogous to those found in humans.
