Flavanol monomer-induced changes to the human faecal microflora

Xenofon Tzounis, Jelena Vulevic, Gunter G C Kuhnle, Trevor George, Jadwiga Leonczak, Glenn R Gibson, Catherine Kwik-Uribe, Jeremy P E Spencer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

387 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have investigated the bacterial-dependent metabolism of ( - )-epicatechin and (+)-catechin using a pH-controlled, stirred, batch-culture fermentation system reflective of the distal region of the human large intestine. Incubation of ( - )-epicatechin or (+)-catechin (150 mg/l or 1000 mg/l) with faecal bacteria, led to the generation of 5-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactone, 5-phenyl-gamma-valerolactone and phenylpropionic acid. However, the formation of these metabolites from (+)-catechin required its initial conversion to (+)-epicatechin. The metabolism of both flavanols occurred in the presence of favourable carbon sources, notably sucrose and the prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides, indicating that bacterial utilisation of flavanols also occurs when preferential energy sources are available. (+)-Catechin incubation affected the growth of select microflora, resulting in a statistically significant increase in the growth of the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group, Bifidobacterium spp. and Escherichia coli, as well as a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of the C. histolyticum group. In contrast, the effect of ( - )-epicatechin was less profound, only significantly increasing the growth of the C. coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group. These potential prebiotic effects for both (+)-catechin and ( - )-epicatechin were most notable at the lower concentration of 150 mg/l. As both ( - )-epicatechin and (+)-catechin were converted to the same metabolites, the more dramatic change in the growth of distinct microfloral populations produced by (+)-catechin incubation may be linked to the bacterial conversion of (+)-catechin to (+)-epicatechin. Together these data suggest that the consumption of flavanol-rich foods may support gut health through their ability to exert prebiotic actions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)782-92
Number of pages11
JournalBritish Journal of Nutrition
Volume99
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2008

Keywords

  • Antioxidants
  • Bacteria
  • Bacteriological Techniques
  • Bifidobacterium
  • Catechin
  • Clostridium
  • Escherichia coli
  • Eubacterium
  • Feces
  • Fermentation
  • Flavonoids
  • Humans
  • Intestine, Large

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