This two-part symposium explores the relationship between diet and the gut microbiome, bridging foundational science with clinical application. Emerging research on how dietary components influence gut microbiota will be reviewed, with attention to the metabolic potential of the microbiome and its implications for health and disease, including transplant therapy and diet-modulated microbial metabolism. The session will then translate this science into practice. The role of fibre and enteral nutrition in modulating the microbiome will be presented, with focus on tube feeding and its impact on patient outcomes. Practical strategies for implementing microbiome-supportive nutrition across adult and pediatric care settings will be provided. These include selecting and recommending dietary interventions that support microbiome health; integrating fibre-rich and microbiome-supportive enteral nutrition protocols in inpatient and outpatient settings; assessing patient readiness and suitability for tube feeding; and educating patients and caregivers on the benefits and preparation of food-based enteral formulas. Emphasis will be placed on clinical practice pearls that support patient outcomes and quality of life. By the end of this symposium, participants will be able to: (1) describe the mechanisms by which dietary components influence gut microbiome composition and function; (2) identify key microbiome-related biomarkers relevant to clinical nutrition; (3) evaluate the role of fibre and enteral nutrition in supporting gut health across patient populations; (4) apply evidence-based strategies to support the microbiome during enteral nutrition provision, including tube feeding.
Canadian Malnutrition Task Force
Canadian Nutrition Society
Dr. Katherine Ford is a Research Associate with the Canadian Nutrition Society and Canadian Malnutrition Task Force. She is supporting the Canadian Malnutrition Taskforce with bridging the transfer of nutrition care from hospital to community. Katherine is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo where her research focuses on integrating a malnutrition care standard in Canadian hospitals and advancing the health policy landscape for malnutrition. Katherine utilizes her experience as Dietitian to bring a clinical perspective to her research and is interested in better understanding the impact of nutritional assessment and interventions on patient-oriented outcomes and how to spread and scale effective interventions focused on improving malnutrition care.