Application of in vitro gut fermentation models to food components: A review

In vitro fermentation models have been developed for study of relationships between gut microbiota and food components. In vitro fermentation gut models involve use of pure cultures, mixed cultures, and human feces, and range from simple batch style fermentations performed in serum bottles to sophisticated pH-controlled multistage continuous culture systems. These models are increasingly used as an alternative to in vivo assays not only for disclosure of physiological activities of food components in the human intestine, but also for development of novel health functional foods. The purpose of this review is to introduce the present status and challenges of use of in vitro gut fermentation models in food studies.