(Poly)phenol-gut microbiota interactions and their impact on human health
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 4/28/2025
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Summary
Plant-based foods rich in polyphenols like berries, tea, and cocoa offer significant health benefits through interactions with gut bacteria. These bacteria break down polyphenols into active compounds that can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, people respond differently to these foods based on their unique gut bacteria composition, suggesting the future of nutrition will be personalized based on individual microbial profiles.
Background
(Poly)phenols are bioactive compounds found in plant-based foods with documented health benefits including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Their bioavailability and physiological effects depend on gut microbiota composition, diversity, and function. Understanding these interactions is essential for exploring their broader physiological implications.
Objective
This review examines recent insights into (poly)phenol-gut microbiota interactions, emphasizing their relevance in mediating health benefits and mechanisms of action. It explores interindividual variability in (poly)phenol metabolism and identifies microbial-derived metabolites with potential health benefits.
Results
Recent studies identified high interindividual variability in (poly)phenol metabolism, revealed bidirectional influences between (poly)phenols and gut microbiota, and characterized multiple metabotypes for isoflavones, urolithins, and resveratrol. Advances in analytical techniques and clustering analysis revealed complex metabotype interactions and their association with distinct microbial ecologies.
Conclusion
Standardized methodologies and long-term studies are needed to clarify the impact of (poly)phenol-derived metabolites on human health. Future research should focus on personalized nutrition approaches using machine learning and multiomics integration to optimize (poly)phenol benefits and establish metabotyping as a cornerstone of precision nutrition.
- Published in:Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care,
- Study Type:Review,
- Source: PMID: 40293967, DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000001132