Scientists have found out that given the same diet, males and females differ in the way the microbes in their stomach microbes react.

A new study led by the University of Texas in Austin and published in Nature Communication shows that diet and a person's gender have a huge influence on the growth of stomach microbes that influence their health.

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The main reason why men and women react differently to diet changes remains unclear, but researchers found probable reasons why.

They said hormones associated with each gender might have influenced the microbes, favoring one strain over another. Difference in the immune system between sexes can affect which microbes live or die.

Although there's a difference in the way microbes react in males and females, there are also similarities in the way males and females react to a diet.

Researchers believe that genetics and diet can affect the number of microbes in the human gut that influence their health causing obesity, diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases.

They hope this finding can help in the expansion of knowledge about human health, suggesting that therapies take into consideration the patients' gender.

Daniel Bolnick,  a professor at the University of Texas, said the study was not just about the influence of microbes in the body. He said there is a need to know what microbes are desirable for each individual to help guide a person's behavior.

He and his colleagues weren't aware of the desirable microbe target and didn't know that diet and sex have a huge influence on the existence of stomach microbes.

With this study, he believes people will approach studies in therapies in a different way. The study should lead to debunking the belief that diet works the same for men and woman.