Role of Dietary Flavonoid Compounds in Driving Patterns of Microbial Community Assembly

Abstract

Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic dietary compounds found in many different plant-based foods. There is increasing evidence that higher flavonoid intake may be causally linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. The bioactivity and bioavailability of many dietary flavonoids can be influenced by gastrointestinal microbiome metabolism. However, the role that habitual flavonoid intake plays in shaping the human gut microbiome is poorly understood. We describe an application of an ecosystem-based analytic approach to nutritional, microbiome, and questionnaire data from a cohort of more than 240 generally healthy adult males to assess the role of dietary flavonoid compounds in driving patterns of microbial community assembly. We identified six subclass-specific microbial communities (SMCs) uniquely and independently associated with intakes of the six flavonoid subclasses. Eggerthela lenta was positively associated with intakes of flavonol and flavanone, and Adlercreutzia equolifaciens was positively associated with intakes of flavonols and flavanol monomers. In contrast, for nearly all flavonoid subclasses, Flavonifractor plautii was inversely associated with subclass consumption. Consuming tea at least once per week explained 10.4% of the total variance in assembly of the 20 species comprising the flavanol monomer SMC. The novel methodology employed, necessitated by multidimensional microbiome data that consist of nonindependent features that exhibit a wide range of distributions and mean values, addresses a major challenge in our ability to understand associations of the microbiome in a wide range of clinical and epidemiologic settings. IMPORTANCE Dietary flavonoids, which have been implicated in lowering chronic disease risk and improving blood pressure, represent a diverse group of polyphenolic compounds found in many commonly consumed foods such as tea, red wine, apples, and berries. The bioactivity and bioavailability of more dietary flavonoids can be influenced by gastrointestinal microbiome metabolism. With demonstrated prebiotic and antimicrobial effects in in vitro and in animal models, it is surprising that there are not many human studies investigating the role dietary flavonoids play in shaping the gastrointestinal microbiome. Our analysis revealed patterns of community assembly that uniquely and independently characterize an individual’s exposure to various flavonoid compounds. Furthermore, this study confirmed, independent from effects of other dietary and lifestyle factors included in the multivariate-adjusted model, that flavonoid intake is associated with microbial community assembly.

Select Polyphenol-Rich Berry Consumption to Defer or Deter Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Complications

“…At the genus level, the abundance of SCOA-producing Lactobacillus and “prebiotic-effect-giving” Bifidobacterium increased, whereas Dehalobacterium , Dorea , SMB53, and Turicibacter remained unaltered [ 141 ]. Additionally, a specific relationship between ingested flavonoids and microbial community patterns was identified [ 151 ]. Dietary flavanol and flavanone intake were positively associated with Eggerthela lenta .…”

“…Dietary flavanol and flavanone intake were positively associated with Eggerthela lenta . Flavonols and flavanol monomer intake was positively associated with Adlercreutzia equolifaciens (involved in phytochemical degradation) and inversely associated with Flavonifractor plauti (Gram-negative poorly understood) populations [ 151 ]. Whole strawberry powder intake increased the α-diversity of colonic inflammatory CD-1 mice, increasing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and reducing pro-inflammatory Akkermansia , Dorea , and Bilophila [ 142 ].…”

Wine Phenolic Compounds Differently Affect the Host-Killing Activity of Two Lytic Bacteriophages Infecting the Lactic Acid Bacterium Oenococcus oeni

“…As a conclusion, our data illustrate the complexity of phage-host interactions in the enological environment and the multiplicity of factors affecting the O. oeni population and possibly the success of MLF in wines. The proposed role of PCs in modulating phage-host interactions and the differential impact observed on OE33PA and Vinitor oenophages now open perspectives in other fields to better understand phage infection dynamics in the gut microbiota in the presence of dietary PCs [ 62 ] or develop relevant phage-based biocontrol strategies to limit plant pathogens [ 63 ].…”

Comparative and Correlational Evaluation of the Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of Musa sinensis L. and Musa paradisiaca L. Fruit Compartments (Musaceae)

“…Dietary flavonoids have biochemical anticancer mechanisms by making the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) the target site [ 50 ] and similarly in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and atherosclerosis [ 51 , 52 ] and chemoprevention and disease therapy [ 53 ]. They are also key in reducing the risk of chronic conditions and the improvement of blood pressure [ 54 ]. Notably, [ 55 ] has elucidated the use of dietary flavonoids in alternative medicine in relation to the control and management of epileptic conditions.…”