Cited by 2,878Gut microbiota and healthMicrobial Metabolites in Food BiotechnologyProbiotics and Fermented Foods

Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components

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Rowland, Ian, Gibson, Glenn, Heinken, Almut, Scott, Karen, Swann, Jonathan, Thiele, Ines, Tuohy, Kieran·2018·European Journal of Nutrition

Abstract

The diverse microbial community that inhabits the human gut has an extensive metabolic repertoire that is distinct from, but complements the activity of mammalian enzymes in the liver and gut mucosa and includes functions essential for host digestion. As such, the gut microbiota is a key factor in shaping the biochemical profile of the diet and, therefore, its impact on host health and disease. The important role that the gut microbiota appears to play in human metabolism and health has stimulated research into the identification of specific microorganisms involved in different processes, and the elucidation of metabolic pathways, particularly those associated with metabolism of dietary components and some host-generated substances. In the first part of the review, we discuss the main gut microorganisms, particularly bacteria, and microbial pathways associated with the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates (to short chain fatty acids and gases), proteins, plant polyphenols, bile acids, and vitamins. The second part of the review focuses on the methodologies, existing and novel, that can be employed to explore gut microbial pathways of metabolism. These include mathematical models, omics techniques, isolated microbes, and enzyme assays.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00394-017-1445-8

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  • The gut microbiota's role in breaking down complex carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids enhances the digestive process, facilitating absorption of essential nutrients.

    “The intricate role of the gut microbiota in breaking down complex carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids enhances the digestive process, facilitating the absorption of essential nutrients.”

    From Unveiling the therapeutic symphony of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics in gut-immune harmony (2024) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Introduction and Proteins sections describe microbial breakdown of polysaccharides and proteins. The Bile acids section links microbial activity to lipid digestion and nutrient absorption indirectly, but says bacterial deconjugation can reduce the efficiency of bile acids in emulsifying dietary lipids. It does not establish that microbial breakdown of all three food groups enhances digestion and absorption as claimed. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The gut microbiota shapes both energy harvest and storage through metabolism of proteins and production of several metabolites including SCFAs, ammonia, sulfur-containing metabolites, and neuroactive compounds.

    “The gut microbiota is an important factor that shapes both energy harvest and storage through metabolism of proteins and production of several metabolites including SCFAs, ammonia, sulfur-containing metabolites such as hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol, and neuroactive compounds such as tryptamine, serotonin, phenethylamine, tryptophan, and histamine [137, 138].”

    From The athletic gut microbiota (2020) · cites this paper as [138]

  • The gut microbiota can synthesize certain vitamins, most notably vitamin K and B-group vitamins, some of which might be directly absorbed.

    “It is well appreciated that the gut microbiota can synthesize certain vitamins, most notably vitamin K and B-group vitamins [e.g., cobalamin (B 12 ), folate, and riboflavin (144, 145)], some of which might be directly absorbed.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [115]Walker AW Duncan SH Louis P Flint HJ Phylogeny, culturing, and metagenomics of the approaches to unravel multi-species microbial community functioning. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2014 13 24 32 PMC4348430 25750697

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Authors
Rowland, I., Gibson, G., Heinken, A., Scott, K., Swann, J., Thiele, I., & Tuohy, K.
Affiliations
  • University of Reading (GB)
  • University of Luxembourg (LU)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Fondazione Edmund Mach (IT)
Corresponding author
Rowland, Ian
Venue
European Journal of Nutrition
Published
2017-04-09
Volume
57
Issue
1
Pages
1-24
ISSN
  • 1436-6207 (ISSN-L)
  • 1436-6215
OpenAlex
W2604323123
Cited by
2,878
References
166
Citations by year
2026: 317 · 2025: 393 · 2024: 431 · 2023: 382 · 2022: 424 · 2021: 365 · 2020: 305 · 2019: 173 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 1
FWCI
14.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • European Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CentAUR (University of Reading) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
  • Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (Fondazione Edmund Mach) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Luxembourg) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
International Life Sciences Institute Europe
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Keywords
gut microbiota, host-microbe interactions, nutrient metabolism, dietary carbohydrates, short-chain fatty acids, protein metabolism, plant polyphenols, bile acids, vitamin metabolism, microbial metabolic pathways, enzyme activity assay
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Bacteria, Bile Acids and Salts, Diet, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Proteins, Fatty Acids, Food, Health Promotion, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Plants, Edible, Vitamins, Proteomics, Metagenomics, Polyphenols, Phytochemicals

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