The Influence of Polyphenol Compounds on Human Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiota

Abstract

Polyphenols form a diverse group of compounds containing at least two hydroxyl groups in their chemical structure. Because of the common presence in plant kingdom, polyphenols are considered a significant component of food and an important group of compounds with antioxidant properties. The absorption of polyphenols present in food depends mostly on the activity of intestinal microflora. However, little is known about the processes and interactions responsible for such phenomenon in guts ecosystem. There are only few available publications that examine the effect on polyphenols on intestinal microbiota. Therefore, this work will focus on describing the relationship between polyphenol compounds present in food and bacteria colonizing the intestines, their mechanism, and impact on human’s health.

Nutritional status, diet and viral respiratory infections: perspectives for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

“…Thus, this beneficial health effect can help prevent and control infections by RNA viruses, including influenza and coronavirus. Ferulic acid is widely found in fruits and cereals (126) .…”

Probiotics for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Humans—A Review of Clinical Trials

“…The intestines are colonized by over 1000 species of bacteria, mainly anaerobic, followed by facultative anaerobes and aerobes [ 17 ]. Dominant bacteria belong to these phyla: Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria [ 18 ].…”

The Impact of Microbiota on the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Possible Benefits of Polyphenols. An Overview

“…In this sense, microorganisms produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs) throughout the fermentation process. Some functions of these fatty acids are, on the one hand, to intervene when differentiating and dividing enterocytes and, on the other hand, maintain and regulate mineral balance, favoring the absorption of magnesium, calcium and iron [ 40 ]. Due to all these functions, the role of gut microbiota in physiology has been given great importance, therefore it can be considered as another human organ [ 41 ].…”

“…Proanthocyanidins favor growth and this process is related to a decrease in obesity and metabolic syndrome [ 147 ]. In addition, consuming anthocyanins promotes a significant rise in Actinomycetales, Bifidobacteriacae, Coriobacteriaceae and the proliferation in Bifidobacterium spp., which is highly efficient as a probiotic; while inhibiting the growth of Bacteroides and Clostridium histolyticum that are shown to be pathogenic for humans [ 40 , 148 ]. The increase in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus seems interesting [ 149 ] as it can be related to benefits in ALS patients due to the fact that high levels of SCFA are generated with a neuroprotective effect [ 77 ].…”