The Role of Diet, Additives, and Antibiotics in Metabolic Endotoxemia and Chronic Diseases

Background/Objectives: Dietary patterns, including high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets (HFDs and HCDs), as well as non-dietary factors such as food additives and antibiotics, are strongly linked to metabolic endotoxemia, a critical driver of low-grade chronic inflammation. This review explores the mechanisms through which these factors impair intestinal permeability, disrupt gut microbial balance, and facilitate lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation into the bloodstream, contributing to metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: The analysis integrates findings from recent studies on the effects of dietary components and gut microbiota interactions on intestinal barrier function and systemic inflammation. Focus is given to experimental designs assessing gut permeability using biochemical and histological methods, alongside microbiota profiling in both human and animal models. Results: HFDs and HCDs were shown to increase intestinal permeability and systemic LPS levels, inducing gut dysbiosis and compromising barrier integrity. The resulting endotoxemia promoted a state of chronic inflammation, disrupting metabolic regulation and contributing to the pathogenesis of various metabolic diseases. Food additives and antibiotics further exacerbated these effects by altering microbial composition and increasing gut permeability. Conclusions: Diet-induced alterations in gut microbiota and barrier dysfunction emerge as key mediators of metabolic endotoxemia and related disorders. Addressing dietary patterns and their impact on gut health is crucial for developing targeted interventions. Further research is warranted to standardize methodologies and elucidate mechanisms for translating these findings into clinical applications.