Comparative modulation of the gut microbiota by date-derived products and refined sugar: a 16S rRNA gene taxonomic profile in healthy rats

Background While refined dietary sugars are known drivers of microbial dysbiosis, natural date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) products contain complex matrices of fibers and polyphenols that may foster more favorable microbial environments. This study compared the effects of refined table sugar (TS) against various date-derived products—Date Sugar Powder (DSP), Dibs Cold-Treated (DCT), Dibs Heat-Treated (DHT), and Whole Date Fruit (WDF)—to assess their differential impact on the gut microbial community. Methods Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to five dietary intervention groups for 6 weeks. Gut microbial community structure and diversity were comprehensively assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bioinformatic analyses were employed to identify taxonomic shifts and community-level differences across treatments. Results 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed that date-based treatments promoted microbial profiles that were distinct and compositionally more diverse than those induced by refined sugar. While the TS group consistently exhibited the lowest alpha diversity, beta diversity analysis (PERMANOVA, p = 0.001) confirmed significant community restructuring across groups, with WDF forming a unique cluster. Notably, the taxonomic response varied by processing method: DSP and DCT groups were characterized by an enrichment of Parasutterella , a genus previously associated in the literature with bile acid remodeling. The DHT group primarily promoted the abundance of Prevotella and Alloprevotella , taxa often recognized for their role in carbohydrate fermentation. Conversely, WDF fostered a unique enrichment of Anaerovibrio and the butyrate-associated genus Roseburia , suggesting that the whole-food matrix supports a distinct microbial niche. Conclusion Natural date-derived products exert profound, product-specific modulatory effects on the gut microbiota, representing a compositionally superior alternative to refined sugar. Specifically, DCT showed a broad enrichment of health-associated taxa, while WDF promoted a unique assemblage of fiber-associated microbes. These results highlight the potential of date products as functional dietary alternatives and ingredients for the food industry, though further functional studies are required to confirm the metabolic implications of these taxonomic shifts.