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Screening for Phytoestrogens using a Cell-based Estrogen Receptor β Reporter Assay
Published on: June 7, 2020
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Bioactivation of Phytoestrogens: Intestinal Bacteria and Health
J M Landete1, J Arqués1, M Medina1
1a Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos , Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) . Madrid , Spain.
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
|April 8, 2015
Summary
Dietary phytoestrogens, like isoflavones, are transformed by gut bacteria into more potent compounds. This microbial metabolism is crucial for their protective health effects against chronic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Phytoestrogens are plant-derived polyphenols structurally similar to human estrogens.
- Found in foods like soya and flaxseed, they possess both estrogenic and antiestrogenic properties.
- While linked to chronic disease protection, in vivo vs. in vitro discrepancies exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of microbial transformations in phytoestrogen bioactivity.
- To understand how gut bacteria influence the health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on phytoestrogen metabolism by intestinal microbiota.
- Analysis of microbial transformation pathways for different phytoestrogen classes (isoflavones, ellagitannins, lignans).
Main Results:
- Intestinal bacteria metabolize isoflavones, ellagitannins, and lignans into equol, urolithins, and enterolignans.
- These metabolites exhibit enhanced bioavailability, estrogenic/antiestrogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and apoptosis-inducing activities compared to precursors.
- Microbial transformation of stilbenes and coumestans has not been widely reported.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota metabolism is essential for the beneficial health effects of certain dietary phytoestrogens.
- Metabolites like equol and urolithins are key mediators of protection against cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and menopausal symptoms.
- Individual gut microbiome composition significantly impacts phytoestrogen efficacy and health outcomes.
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