Gut Microbiota, Dietary Phytochemicals, and Benefits to Human Health

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gut Microbiota, Dietary Phytochemicals, and Benefits to Human Health

AU - Yin, Ran

AU - Kuo, Hsiao Chen

AU - Hudlikar, Rasika

AU - Sargsyan, Davit

AU - Li, Shanyi

AU - Wang, Lujing

AU - Wu, Renyi

AU - Kong, Ah Ng

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

PY - 2019/10/1

Y1 - 2019/10/1

N2 - Purpose of Review: In this review, we discuss the roles of the gut microbiota and dietary phytochemicals in improving human health. Recent studies have reported that the human gut microbiota can be altered by dietary phytochemicals, including phenolics, carotenoids, and dietary fibers. In addition, both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria show regulatory effects with phytochemicals, suggesting potential synergistic effects in the improvement of human gut health and prevention of chronic diseases. Recent Findings: Numerous studies have been conducted on gut microbial alterations induced by phytochemicals, such as phenolics and carotenoids. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced via bacterial fermentation in the colon, also shows a significantly beneficial effect in the maintenance of gut microbial homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of diets and the interactions of the gut microorganisms remain poorly understood. The gut microbiome profile changes have been observed in chronic inflammation-induced diseases, including colitis, Crohn’s disease, immune dysfunction, colon cancer, obesity, and diabetes. The anti-inflammatory effects of dietary phytochemicals against these diseases may be partially mediated by the regulation of microbial profiles. The latest advances in biomedical technology, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), and continuous cost reduction associated with these technologies have enabled researchers to perform an ever-increasing number of large-scale, high-throughput computational analyses to elucidate the potential mechanism of phytochemical–microbiome interactions. Summary: Information obtained from these studies may provide valuable insights to guide future clinical research for the development of therapeutics, botanicals, and drug efficacy testing, many of which will be discussed in this review.

AB - Purpose of Review: In this review, we discuss the roles of the gut microbiota and dietary phytochemicals in improving human health. Recent studies have reported that the human gut microbiota can be altered by dietary phytochemicals, including phenolics, carotenoids, and dietary fibers. In addition, both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria show regulatory effects with phytochemicals, suggesting potential synergistic effects in the improvement of human gut health and prevention of chronic diseases. Recent Findings: Numerous studies have been conducted on gut microbial alterations induced by phytochemicals, such as phenolics and carotenoids. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced via bacterial fermentation in the colon, also shows a significantly beneficial effect in the maintenance of gut microbial homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of diets and the interactions of the gut microorganisms remain poorly understood. The gut microbiome profile changes have been observed in chronic inflammation-induced diseases, including colitis, Crohn’s disease, immune dysfunction, colon cancer, obesity, and diabetes. The anti-inflammatory effects of dietary phytochemicals against these diseases may be partially mediated by the regulation of microbial profiles. The latest advances in biomedical technology, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), and continuous cost reduction associated with these technologies have enabled researchers to perform an ever-increasing number of large-scale, high-throughput computational analyses to elucidate the potential mechanism of phytochemical–microbiome interactions. Summary: Information obtained from these studies may provide valuable insights to guide future clinical research for the development of therapeutics, botanicals, and drug efficacy testing, many of which will be discussed in this review.

KW - Chronic diseases

KW - Human health

KW - Microbiota

KW - Phytochemicals

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85071263757

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85071263757#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1007/s40495-019-00196-3

DO - 10.1007/s40495-019-00196-3

M3 - Review article

SN - 2198-641X

VL - 5

SP - 332

EP - 344

JO - Current Pharmacology Reports

JF - Current Pharmacology Reports

IS - 5

ER -