# Indian tribal diets linked to distinct gut microbiomes 2026-08-07T05:45:19+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A study of 76 healthy adults from eight tribal communities across India found gut microbiomes shaped by traditional diets and distinct from samples from industrialised California. Researchers from the National Centre for Cell Science and partner institutions identified 14 potentially novel bacterial taxa, despite the small sample. Trans-Himalayan communities, whose diets included grains and dairy, showed greater microbial diversity and a distinct strain of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, along with pathways linked to lactose and galactose metabolism. Other communities consumed combinations of fish, fruits, greens, stems and home-brewed alcoholic drinks. The findings offer a baseline for India’s tribal populations, which account for less than 1% of global human microbiome samples. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: gut microbiome, NCCS, probiotics, traditional diets, tribal communities Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/indian-tribal-diets-linked-to-distinct-gut-microbiomes/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/indian-tribal-diets-linked-to-distinct-gut-microbiomes/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.