Interaction of dietary polyphenols and gut microbiota: Microbial metabolism of polyphenols, influence on the gut microbiota, and implications on host health

The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a vast number ofmicroorganisms that\r\nare called as the microbiota. Each individual harbors a unique gut microbial composition,\r\nthis composition evolves throughout the host’s lifetime and it is easily affected\r\nby internal or external changes. It has been shown that gut microbiota plays a crucial\r\nrole in host’s health and as this complex community has the ability to interact with\r\neach other and with the host’s immune system, the presence or absence of some major\r\nspecies can affect the homeostasis. Diet can be considered as one of the pivotal factors\r\nin modulating the functionality, integrity, and composition of the gut microbiota\r\nas the gastrointestinal tract is the first organ exposed to components of the diet. In this\r\nreview,we have focused on the effects of polyphenols, key compounds of a healthy diet\r\nwith several biological activities, on the gut microbial composition, their biotransformation\r\nby the gut microbiota, and the effect of their reciprocal interactions in human\r\nhealth and disease.