Impacts of Age, Snack Food, and Whole and Refined Wheat on the Rat Fecal Microbiome

Early exposures that promote gut microbiome dysbiosis are associated with childhood and adult disease. The ability of whole (vs refined) grains to enhance gut microbiome composition and function and host immunometabolic health remains controversial. We assessed the impact of whole vs refined wheat on gut microbiome maturation in Sprague Dawley rats fed a snack food‐based diet. Individually‐housed male Sprague Dawley rats were weaned at 4 weeks...