Microbiota and wellbeing: A systematic review of associations with microbial diversity and composition

Interest in the microbiota’s role in wellbeing has significantly grown. This systematic review examined associations between gut and oral microbiota and wellbeing. Results on gut microbial diversity were inconsistent, likely due to methodological variation. However, short-chain fatty acid–producing genera were positively linked to wellbeing, while pro-inflammatory genera showed negative associations. No studies assessed oral microbiota. Future research requires standardized methods, independent validations, and longitudinal designs to clarify microbiota-wellbeing relationships.