Metabolism of ellagitannins from jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) in normoweight, overweight and obese Brazilians: Unexpected laxative effects influence urolithins urinary excretion and metabotype distribution

Abstract

This is the first study on ellagitannin metabolism in a non-European population, through consumption of jabuticaba, a Brazilian berry. From 35 volunteers (19 normoweight and 16 overweight or obese), 63% reported the occurrence of diarrhea, probably caused by the high amount of ellagitannins consumed. Urolithin excretion showed high interindividual variability (1.77–522 μmol) and was reduced by diarrhea, but not affected by gender or nutritional status. As reported for Europeans, three urolithin metabotypes (A, B and 0) were observed in Brazilians, with a higher prevalence of metabotype B in overweight and obese individuals (37.5%) than normoweight (21.1%). However, metabotype 0 prevalence (17.1%) was higher than that previously described (∼10%), probably due to diarrhea. This unexpected side effect reinforces the essential role of gut microbiota in ellagitannin metabolism. Besides, despite cultural and ethnical differences between Europeans and Brazilians, their gut microbiota composition may be similar in terms of ellagitannin metabolism.