Factors affecting intake, metabolism and health benefits of phenolic acids: do we understand individual variability?

A. Bento-Silva, V.M. Koistinen, P. Mena, M.R. Bronze, K. Hanhineva, S. Sahlstrøm, V. Kitrytė, S. Moco, A.-M. Aura

Research output: Contribution to JournalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

© 2019, The Author(s).Introduction: Phenolic acids are important phenolic compounds widespread in foods, contributing to nutritional and organoleptic properties. Factors affceting individual variability: The bioavailability of these compounds depends on their free or conjugated presence in food matrices, which is also affected by food processing. Phenolic acids undergo metabolism by the host and residing intestinal microbiota, which causes conjugations and structural modifications of the compounds. Human responses, metabolite profiles and health responses of phenolics, show considerable individual variation, which is affected by absorption, metabolism and genetic variations of subjects. Opinion: A better understanding of the gut-host interplay and microbiome biochemistry is becoming highly relevant in understanding the impact of diet and its constituents. It is common to study metabolism and health benefits separately, with some exceptions; however, it should be preferred that health responders and non-responders are studied in combination with explanatory metabolite profiles and gene variants. This approach could turn interindividual variation from a problem in human research to an asset for research on personalized nutrition.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1275-1293
JournalEuropean journal of nutrition
Volume59
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

Funding

Open access funding provided by University of Eastern Finland (UEF) including Kuopio University Hospital. All authors are participants of the EU-funded COST Action FA1403 POSITIVe (Interindividual variation in response to consumption of plant food bioactives and determinants involved).

FundersFunder number
EU-funded COST
Itä-Suomen Yliopisto
Kuopion Yliopistollinen Sairaala

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