In Vitro Fermentation Shows Polyphenol and Fiber Blends Have an Additive Beneficial Effect on Gut Microbiota States

Abstract

Polyphenols and fermentable fibers have shown favorable effects on gut microbiota composition and metabolic function. However, few studies have investigated whether combining multiple fermentable fibers or polyphenols may have additive beneficial effects on gut microbial states. Here, an in vitro fermentation model, seeded with human stool combined from 30 healthy volunteers, was supplemented with blends of polyphenols (PP), dietary fibers (FB), or their combination (PPFB) to determine influence on gut bacteria growth dynamics and select metabolite changes. PP and FB blends independently led to significant increases in the absolute abundance of select beneficial taxa, namely Ruminococcus bromii, Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Dorea spp. Total short-chain fatty acid concentrations, relative to non-supplemented control (F), increased significantly with PPFB and FB supplementation but not PP. Indole and ammonia concentrations decreased with FB and PPFB supplementation but not PP alone while increased antioxidant capacity was only evident with both PP and PPFB supplementation. These findings demonstrated that, while the independent blends displayed selective positive impacts on gut states, the combination of both blends provided an additive effect. The work outlines the potential of mixed substrate blends to elicit a broader positive influence on gut microbial composition and function to build resiliency toward dysbiosis.

Dietary Patterns, Gut Microbiota and Sports Performance in Athletes: A Narrative Review

“…Consequently, there is growing interest in investigating whether the gut microbiota acts as a mediator for various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [ 7 ]. Furthermore, recent attention has focused on exploring the potential role of the gut microbiota as a mediator between dietary patterns, especially for specific micronutrients such as dietary fiber and anthocyanins (ACNs) that are abundant in dietary patterns, and sports performance in athletes [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. However, most studies have primarily evaluated the effects of supplements, like probiotics, on athletic performance rather than deeply investigating the relationship between dietary patterns and sports performance through their impact on the gut microbiota.…”