<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD JATS (Z39.96) Journal Article Tag Suite 1.1//EN"
  "https://jats.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/1.1/JATS-journalpublishing1.dtd">
<article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
         xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"
         article-type="Research Paper"
         xml:lang="en">
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Advances in Obesity, Endocrinology, and Diabetes</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">AOEDS</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="epub">3049-0715</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Dr Lakshmi Nagendra</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">AOEDS230055</article-id>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>VITAMIN D AND THE HUMAN GUT MICROBIOTA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW Review Article</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>SALLEM</surname>
            <given-names>Om Kolthoum</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>GUAROUACHi</surname>
            <given-names>Amira</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>DADAA</surname>
            <given-names>Syrine</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>HASNi</surname>
            <given-names>Yosra</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3"/>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <aff id="aff1">EPS Fattouma Bourguiba</aff>
      <aff id="aff2">University of Monastir</aff>
      <aff id="aff3">Farhat Hached University Hospital</aff>
      <pub-date pub-type="epub" iso-8601-date="2026-06-17">
        <month>06</month>
        <day>17</day>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>3</volume>
      <issue>2</issue>
      <abstract>
        <p>Background: Vitamin D is an endocrine secosteroid with recognized extra-skeletal functions, including modulation of immune responses, epithelial barrier integrity, antimicrobial peptide expression, and inflammatory signaling. In parallel, the intestinal microbiota is increasingly recognized as a metabolic and immunological interface relevant to obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic health. This review evaluates the evidence linking vitamin D status or supplementation to the composition and diversity of the human gut microbiota. Methods: A systematic narrative review was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published from 2010 to 2025. Human interventional and observational studies, systematic reviews, and mechanistic reports addressing vitamin D status or supplementation and gut microbiota outcomes were considered. The search and selection process was summarized using a PRISMA-style flow diagram. Findings were synthesized qualitatively because of substantial heterogeneity in populations, vitamin D regimens, microbiome sequencing methods, and reported endpoints. Results: Seventy-four records were identified; after duplicate removal and screening, 25 full-text reports were assessed and 11 evidence sources were retained for detailed synthesis. Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was generally associated with a more favorable microbiota profile, including greater microbial diversity and enrichment of taxa such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and butyrate-associated organisms. Randomized supplementation studies showed biologically plausible but inconsistent effects on alpha diversity, beta diversity, and phylum-level changes, particularly the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes balance. Conclusions: Current evidence supports a plausible vitamin D-gut microbiota axis, but causality remains unproven. Vitamin D supplementation should not yet be considered a targeted microbiota- modifying therapy outside correction of deficiency. Larger standardized randomized trials with integrated metabolomic, endocrine, and clinical endpoints are required.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group kwd-group-type="author">
        <kwd>Vitamin D</kwd>
        <kwd>Gut microbiota</kwd>
        <kwd>Vitamin D receptor</kwd>
        <kwd>Dysbiosis</kwd>
        <kwd>Endocrine metabolism</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <!-- Full article body not available in metadata-only JATS export. See PDF/HTML galley. -->
  </body>
  <back/>
</article>
