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Gut Microbial Metabotypes Shape Polyphenol Bioactivity: Toward Precision Nutrition Strategies for Human Health
Pasquale Perrone1, Stefania D'Angelo2
1Department of Psychology and Health Sciences, Pegaso Telematic University, 80143 Naples, Italy.
Nutrients
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Dietary polyphenol effects depend on gut microbes transforming them into metabolites. Individual differences in gut microbiota create "microbial metabotypes," impacting health and precision nutrition, though clinical use is limited.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Microbiology
- Human Metabolism
Background:
- Dietary polyphenols' biological effects are influenced by bioavailability, host metabolism, and gut microbiota biotransformation.
- Poor absorption in the upper GI tract leads to colonic conversion into diverse metabolites like urolithins and equol.
- These microbial metabolites can have different absorption and activity profiles than parent compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review gut microbiota-mediated polyphenol biotransformation and the concept of microbial metabotypes.
- To examine determinants of metabotype variability and their relevance for precision nutrition.
- To critically assess evidence for biological effects of polyphenol metabolites and the clinical translation of metabotype approaches.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of scientific literature.
- Focus on urolithin, equol, and enterolignan metabotypes.
- Distinction between well-characterized and emerging metabolic phenotypes.
Main Results:
- Gut microbiota significantly biotransforms polyphenols into various metabolites.
- Microbial metabotypes explain interindividual variability in metabolite production.
- Evidence for metabolite effects on mitochondrial function, inflammation, and gut-brain axis exists, but clinical validation is pending.
Conclusions:
- Microbial metabotypes are promising biomarkers for research and stratified trials in nutrition.
- Clinical translation is hindered by non-standardized methods and insufficient validation.
- Metabotypes are not yet established for routine personalized dietary prescription.
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