Explore our newest publication from the Gibson Lab on how immigration to Canada affects the gut microbiome in Indian migrants.
Our study found that first- and second-generation Indian migrants exhibit a shift away from a traditional Indian microbiome toward a westernized microbiome. This shift was most pronounced in the second generation Indo-Canadians, and was also correlated with significant dietary changes, specifically, an increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
On average, 61% of calories consumed daily by Indo-Canadians were from UPFs, whereas UPFs made up only 12% of the daily caloric intake in Indians living in India. This dramatic change in dietary patterns highlights a major factor that may be influencing such a drastic transition in the gut microbiome in those who migrate to westernized countries.
To learn more, read the paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-025-00778-8.pdf
