Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37117549›Full record

ReviewNature food2023

Chitin and omega-3 fatty acids in edible insects have underexplored benefits for the gut microbiome and human health.

Valerie J Stull, Tiffany L Weir

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Nature food, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed
11.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 41 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Effect of Dietary Inclusion of House Cricket (Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026
    Article
  2. Neuroprotective and Antidepressant Effects ofExperimental neurobiology · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Influence ofAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Male-specific amelioration of lipid metabolism by edible insectFood chemistry. Molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
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  9. International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Valerie J StullCenter for Sustainability and the Global Environment, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. vstull@wisc.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-4309-859X
Tiffany L WeirDepartment of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Colorado State University · USUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

A healthy gut microbiome is critical for nutrient metabolism, pathogen inhibition and immune regulation, and is highly influenced by diet. Edible insects are good sources of protein and micronutrients, but unlike other animal-derived foods, they also contain both dietary fibre and omega-3 fatty acids that can modulate gut microbiota. Here we explore the potential impacts of insect consumption on the microbiome. Laboratory, animal and human studies indicate that insect fibre in the form of chitin and its derivatives can modify gut microbiota with beneficial outcomes. Some insects also contain favourable omega-3/omega-6 ratios. We identify gaps in the literature-especially a dearth of human studies-that must be addressed to better understand health impacts of entomophagy. Insects, already eaten across the globe, can be farmed using fewer resources than conventional livestock. Widening the research scope offers an opportunity to advance use of edible insects to address interconnected environmental and health challenges.

Indexed as

Edible InsectsFatty Acids, Omega-3Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeAnimalsChitinHumansInsectaChitinFatty Acids, Omega-3

Identifiers

PMID37117549
OpenAlexW4366481667

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.