Abstract
The intestinal microbiome plays an important role in the metabolism of chemical compounds found within food. Bacterial metabolites are different from those that can be generated by human enzymes because bacterial processes occur under anaerobic conditions and are based mainly on reactions of reduction and/or hydrolysis. In most cases, bacterial metabolism reduces the activity of dietary compounds; however, sometimes a specific product of bacterial transformation exhibits enhanced properties. Studies on the metabolism of polyphenols by the intestinal microbiota are crucial for understanding the role of these compounds and their impact on our health. This review article presents possible pathways of polyphenol metabolism by intestinal bacteria and describes the diet-derived bioactive metabolites produced by gut microbiota, with a particular emphasis on polyphenols and their potential impact on human health. Because the etiology of many diseases is largely correlated with the intestinal microbiome, a balance between the host immune system and the commensal gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining health. Diet-related and age-related changes in the human intestinal microbiome and their consequences are summarized in the paper.
Highlights
For many years, it was thought that the function of the large intestine was to reabsorb water and salt and remove unused food debris
It is evident that the intestinal microbiota plays an important, if not crucial, role in the metabolism of chemical compounds found within foods
All of the results described above confirm that polyphenols can modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota and indirectly influence their own metabolism and bioavailability
Summary
It was thought that the function of the large intestine was to reabsorb water and salt and remove unused food debris. The NIH Human Microbiome Project (2007, USA) aimed to characterize the influence of the microbiota on the human body and to correlate changes in these microbial populations with human health. The Irish ELDERMET Project (2007–2013) focused on characterization of the fecal microbiota associated with aging and aimed to correlate the composition, diversity and metabolic potential of the fecal microbial metagenome with health, diet and lifestyle. MetaHIT (metagenomics of the human intestinal tract, 2008–2011) was a European project focused on assessing the role of the microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. The French project Microbes (human intestinal microbiome in obesity and nutritional transition, 2008–2010) sought to identify metagenomic signatures that characterize the relationship between the intestinal microbiome and the nutritional and metabolic status of the host.
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