Cited by 603Gut microbiota and healthPhytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesPomegranate: compositions and health benefits

The gut microbiota: a key factor in the therapeutic effects of (poly)phenols

Espín, Juan Carlos, González-Sarrías, Antonio, Tomás-Barberán, Francisco A.·2017·Biochemical Pharmacology

Abstract

(Poly)phenols (PPs) constitute a large family of phytochemicals with high chemical diversity that are known to be active principles of plant-derived nutraceuticals and herbal medicinal products. Their pharmacological activity, however, is difficult to demonstrate due to their mild physiological effects, and to the large inter-individual variability observed. Many PPs have little bioavailability and reach the colon almost unaltered. There they encounter the gut microbes resulting in a two-way interaction in which PPs modulate the gut microbiota composition, and the intestinal microbes catabolize the ingested PPs to release metabolites that are often more active and better absorbed than the native phenolic compounds. The type and quantity of the PP metabolites produced in humans depend on the gut microbiota composition and function, and different metabotypes have been identified. However, not all the metabolites have the same biological activity, and therefore the final health effects of dietary PPs depend on the gut microbiota composition. Stratification in clinical trials according to individuals' metabotypes is necessary to fully understand the health effects of PPs. In this review, we present and discuss the most significant and updated knowledge regarding the reciprocal interrelation of the gut microbiota with dietary PPs as a key factor that modulates the health effects of these compounds. The review will focus in those PPs that are known to be metabolized by gut microbiota resulting in bioactive metabolites.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.04.033

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  • Bioavailability and some biological activity of ω-3 fatty acids or polyphenols might be dependent on conversion by the gut microbiota.

    “However, bioavailability and some biological activity might also be dependent on conversion by the gut microbiota (413), which is the case in the interaction between polyphenols, microbiota, and associated beneficial effects (507).”
  • The extent of the beneficial systemic effect of certain nutrients (e.g., polyphenols) depends on the ability of an individual's microbiota phenotype to convert the nutrients into bioavailable compounds.

    “In fact, the extent of the beneficial systemic effect of certain nutrients (e.g., polyphenols) depends on the ability of an individual's microbiota phenotype to convert the nutrients into bioavailable compounds (507).”

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Authors
Espín, J. C., González-Sarrías, A., & Tomás-Barberán, F. A.
Affiliations
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
Corresponding author
Tomás-Barberán, Francisco A.
Venue
Biochemical Pharmacology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-09
Volume
139
Pages
82-93
ISSN
0006-2952 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2611265774
Cited by
603
References
122
Citations by year
2026: 51 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 91 · 2020: 92 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 12
FWCI
5.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Biochemical Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (201370E068)
  • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
  • European Cooperation in Science and Technology
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Pomegranate: compositions and health benefits
Keywords
gut microbiota, polyphenols, polyphenol metabolism, gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolites, metabolic phenotypes, bioavailability, nutraceuticals, herbal medicinal products, interindividual variability, clinical trial stratification
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Diet, Healthy, Animals, Antioxidants, Digestion, Flavonoids, Humans, Hydrogenation, Hydrolysis, Hydroxylation, Intestinal Absorption, Phenols, Stilbenes, Colorectal Neoplasms, Anticarcinogenic Agents, Dietary Supplements, Plant Preparations, Dysbiosis

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