Title: Association between Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms in
U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007–2010
Version: 1 Date: 05 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
"Association between Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms in U.S.
adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007–2010"
This study assessed the relationship between the Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal
bowel symptoms. The authors found an inverse correlation between Dietary Index of Gut
Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms. This investigation is intriguing, especially applying
a dietary index reflecting gut microbiota. However, major revision is needed as follows:
Major comments:
1. Please omit limes 75 -79; this paragraph does not add valuable data and only decreases the
readability of INTRODUCTION.
2. Line 110, the referencing format does not align with the rest of the manuscript, please edit.
3. Medication use, supplement use, total energy intake, fiber, and total fat are possible
confounders. Please explain why these variables were not taken into account in regression
models.
4. Not enough details have been provided on the construction and validation of the Dietary
Index of Gut Microbiota, please revise. To the best of my knowledge, this score has been only
investigated in a few studies and more importantly has been only validated in one study using
indirect biomarkers of gut microbiota diversity. Please elaborate on the matter as it is my biggest
concern.
5. Energy intake is strongly correlated with median intake of food groups, when computing
Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota, does dietary intake of these 14 components were adjusted for
energy? Please explain.
Minor comments:
1. The manuscript needs to be reviewed for grammar, punctuation, and appropriate word
selection.
2. Throughout the manuscript, some paragraphs lack cohesion. Please revise.
3. Please check all abbreviations throughout the text.
Title: Association between Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms in
U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007–2010
Version: 1 Date: 05 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
"Association between Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms in U.S.
adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007–2010"
This study assessed the relationship between the Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal
bowel symptoms. The authors found an inverse correlation between Dietary Index of Gut
Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms. This investigation is intriguing, especially applying
a dietary index reflecting gut microbiota. However, major revision is needed as follows:
Major comments:
1. Please omit limes 75 -79; this paragraph does not add valuable data and only decreases the
readability of INTRODUCTION.
2. Line 110, the referencing format does not align with the rest of the manuscript, please edit.
3. Medication use, supplement use, total energy intake, fiber, and total fat are possible
confounders. Please explain why these variables were not taken into account in regression
models.
4. Not enough details have been provided on the construction and validation of the Dietary
Index of Gut Microbiota, please revise. To the best of my knowledge, this score has been only
investigated in a few studies and more importantly has been only validated in one study using
indirect biomarkers of gut microbiota diversity. Please elaborate on the matter as it is my biggest
concern.
5. Energy intake is strongly correlated with median intake of food groups, when computing
Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota, does dietary intake of these 14 components were adjusted for
energy? Please explain.
Minor comments:
1. The manuscript needs to be reviewed for grammar, punctuation, and appropriate word
selection.
2. Throughout the manuscript, some paragraphs lack cohesion. Please revise.
3. Please check all abbreviations throughout the text.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Association between Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms in
U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007–2010
Version: 1 Date: 05 Apr 2025
Reviewer's report:
"Association between Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms in U.S.
adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007–2010"
This study assessed the relationship between the Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota and abnormal
bowel symptoms. The authors found an inverse correlation between Dietary Index of Gut
Microbiota and abnormal bowel symptoms. This investigation is intriguing, especially applying
a dietary index reflecting gut microbiota. However, major revision is needed as follows:
Major comments:
1. Please omit limes 75 -79; this paragraph does not add valuable data and only decreases the
readability of INTRODUCTION.
2. Line 110, the referencing format does not align with the rest of the manuscript, please edit.
3. Medication use, supplement use, total energy intake, fiber, and total fat are possible
confounders. Please explain why these variables were not taken into account in regression
models.
4. Not enough details have been provided on the construction and validation of the Dietary
Index of Gut Microbiota, please revise. To the best of my knowledge, this score has been only
investigated in a few studies and more importantly has been only validated in one study using
indirect biomarkers of gut microbiota diversity. Please elaborate on the matter as it is my biggest
concern.
5. Energy intake is strongly correlated with median intake of food groups, when computing
Dietary Index of Gut Microbiota, does dietary intake of these 14 components were adjusted for
energy? Please explain.
Minor comments:
1. The manuscript needs to be reviewed for grammar, punctuation, and appropriate word
selection.
2. Throughout the manuscript, some paragraphs lack cohesion. Please revise.
3. Please check all abbreviations throughout the text.
assistant