Why are polyphenols so important to health?

If we are asked why it is always considered advisable to consume fruits, vegetables and nuts, the words “vitamins” and “minerals” will surely be the first thing that comes to mind. But what about polyphenols? Have we heard of them before?

Polyphenols: what are they and where are they?

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites that plants produce as a defense when exposed to stress situations such as UV rays or fungal infections.

It is found in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil or wine, providing, among other things, colour, aroma and bitterness. But besides providing the organoleptic properties of food, various studies have shown that administration of polyphenols has beneficial effects in humans. In fact, the effectiveness of polyphenols in improving markers of metabolic diseases such as diabetic and the Insulin resistanceAnd Cardiovascular disease, the Certain types of cancer.

This would explain why Diet patterns are characterized by a high proportion of foods rich in polyphenols, such as the Mediterranean dietrelated to improving the general state of health. In this sense, despite the fact that the simplest and most accessible way to ensure polyphenol intake would be through the consumption of the previously mentioned foods, there is a growing trend towards the use of supplements containing polyphenols.

However, despite the beneficial effects described for polyphenols, their effectiveness may be limited due to It undergoes metabolism in the intestine. This would make the amount of polyphenols that reach the organs and tissues much less than what is ingested. The good news is that more and more research is indicating that this limitation of polyphenols may not be so limiting.

Polyphenols and Microbes: Friends or Foes?

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to intestinal microflora due to The relevant role it plays in important biological processes. These include immune function, production of biologically active metabolites, and digestion of certain food components.

Its function mainly depends on its composition, and this, in turn, is conditioned (among other factors) by the diet of the host. For example, it has been observed that adherence to the Mediterranean diet Contributes to an increase in the abundance of bacterial species that are considered beneficial, how Animal Bifidobacterium, Oscillibacter valericgenes s pink rose poo.

On the other hand, the current Western eating pattern, which is rich in saturated fat and sugar, is associated with an altered (less diverse) composition of the microbiota, which appears to be involved in the development of Inflammatory metabolic diseases Such as obesity or diabetes.

In the case of polyphenols, it has been suggested that their metabolism by the intestinal flora translates to In the prebiotic effect.

On the one hand, they are born secondary metabolites Made of polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties. On the other hand, they produce Changes in the composition of microorganisms, increasing their diversity and favoring the production of microbial metabolites with anti-inflammatory effectLike short chain fatty acids.

All this leads to reduced inflammation of the intestine, which helps maintain the function of the intestinal barrier and reduce the amount of inflammatory mediators that reach the bloodstream (which produces metabolic changes in various organs and tissues).

In addition, several studies indicate that polyphenols also inhibit proinflammatory mediator synthesis pathways and increase the expression of tight junction proteins in intestinal cells, helping to reduce gut permeability.

It has also been suggested that they may contribute to mucin secretion and slow the synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

All this creates an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria that are considered beneficial as Akkermansia muciniphila. It should be noted that these effects have been described for both Polyphenol supplementation such as dietary patterns that contain foods rich in polyphenols.

In summary, the available scientific evidence indicates that polyphenols can have effects similar to those of prebiotics in terms of the gut microbiota.

In this sense, the intake of polyphenols will regulate the formation and function of spores. It follows that eating foods rich in polyphenols can be an effective strategy for maintaining a healthy microbiota. All this without forgetting that some factors, such as genetics or an individual’s lifestyle, can affect the health of the gut microbiota and the potential effects that polyphenol consumption can produce.

Iñaki Milton Laskpar, a postdoctoral researcher in the Cardiovascular Nutrition Group, IMDEA Food. Research fellow at the Center for Biomedical Research in Obesity Physiology and Nutrition Network (CiberObn), University of the Basque Country University of the Basque Country; Laura Isabel Arellano GarciaNutrition and health student University of the Basque Country University of the Basque Country s Maria Boy PortilloProfessor of Nutrition. Center for Biomedical Research in Obesity Physiology and Nutrition Network (CIBERobn), University of the Basque Country University of the Basque Country

This article was originally published Conversation. Read the A native.