A scoping review of scholarly publications on association of Prakriti and gut microbiome

Abstract BACKGROUND: The Ayurvedic concept of Prakriti categorizes individuals into three primary types: Vata , Pitta , and Kapha , each associated with distinct physiological traits. Recent scientific interest suggests a potential association between Prakriti and gut microbiome composition, offering insights into personalized medicine. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to explore existing evidence on the association between Prakriti and gut microbiome, and its implications for personalized health care. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Included studies were peer-reviewed observational and interventional research articles published in English that assessed gut microbiota in relation to Prakriti . Exclusion criteria included non-English articles, conference abstracts, and studies lacking relevant baseline data. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and PubMed Central for articles published up to December 2021. CHARTING METHODS: The selection process followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A total of 94 articles were screened. Data from six eligible studies were extracted and analyzed using narrative synthesis. Data points included study setting, sample size, sample type, and reported microbial features corresponding to Prakriti . RESULTS: The dominant phyla across all Prakriti types were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes . Vata types demonstrated enrichment of butyrate-producing microbes while Pitta types exhibited higher levels of inflammation-associated. Kapha individuals showed increased abundance of lipid metabolism-related and anti-inflammatory microbes. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a potential correlation between gut microbiome profiles and Prakriti types. Understanding these patterns can support constitution-based personalized interventions. Further large-scale, standardized studies are needed to validate these associations and explore their functional relevance in health care.