Effect of Moderate Consumption of Different Phenolic-Content Beers on the Human Gut Microbiota Composition: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract

The moderate consumption of beer has been associated with positive effects on health, and these benefits are driven, in part, by the antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds found in this beverage. However, the potential impact of beer polyphenols on the human gut microbiome and their consequences are yet to be elucidated. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the effect of three different phenolic-content beers on the gut microbiome and the potential role of the induced shifts in the antioxidant capacity of beer polyphenols. In total, 20 subjects (10 healthy volunteers and 10 individuals with metabolic syndrome) were randomly assigned in a crossover design to consume each of the different beers (alcohol-free, lager or dark beer) during a 2-week intervention. Significant changes in the relative abundance of Streptococcaceae and Streptococcus were found after beer consumption. An increased abundance of Streptococcaceae and Streptococcus was observed after the consumption of dark beer, with no detected differences between baseline and alcohol-free/lager beer intervention. Moreover, some of the detected differences appeared to be related to the metabolic status. Finally, a decrease in porphyrin metabolism and heme biosynthesis was found after the intervention, especially after the consumption of dark beer. These results show that the antioxidant capacity of beer polyphenols may induce positive shifts in gut microbiota composition, and some of the observed changes may also boost the antioxidant capacity of these compounds.

Beer and Microbiota: Pathways for a Positive and Healthy Interaction

“…Positive effects were found only with wine in a large study on twins in Great Britain, in which non-alcoholic beer was not an element of investigation [ 96 ]. A recent clinical study by Martínez-Montoro et al [ 97 ] worked on adults aged 30–60, divided into two groups (with or without metabolic syndrome) who were administered beer with different concentrations of polyphenols, consumed successively, after respective washout periods. In the beginning there were no radical differences in microbiota characteristics between the two groups.…”

Features of Non-Alcoholic Beer on Cardiovascular Biomarkers. Can It Be a Substitute for Conventional Beer?

“…Very recently, a randomized human trial addressed the effects of moderate consumption of three different beers, with different concentrations of polyphenols, on the composition of the intestinal microbiota [ 25 ]. The study involved 20 adults aged 30–60 years, with BMI <40 kg/m 2 .…”