Effects of stachyose on absorption and transportation of tea catechins in mice: possible role of Phase II metabolic enzymes and efflux transporters inhibition by stachyose

Fructooligosaccharides Increase in Plasma Concentration of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate in Rats

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) undergoes auto-oxidation at physiological pH and therefore may be poorly absorbed in the intestine. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), comprising a group of 1-kestose, nystose, and 1^F-β fructofuranosyl-nystose, are fermentable by gut bacteria and converted mainly into lactate. This study was conducted to determine whether dietary FOS may help to increase the plasma concentration of EGCG in rats by preventing it from auto-oxidation. Rats consumed an assigned diet, either a 0.3% (w/w) EGCG diet or an EGCG diet with additional 1, 3, or 5% (w/w) FOS, for 2 weeks. The results showed that the plasma concentration of EGCG was 0.21 ± 0.05 μM for the EGCG alone group, and it was significantly higher at 0.65 ± 0.12 μM for the EGCG plus 5% FOS group. Treatments with FOS resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the cecal level of lactate and brought the cecal pH down, with an accompanying alteration in the abundance of Lactobacillus and Collinsella. Because EGCG concentrations in the cecal digesta of rats fed the FOS-containing diet maintained comparatively high levels, FOS likely contributed to the protection of EGCG from auto-oxidation. In conclusion, FOS reduced the pH of the lumen of the intestine, kept EGCG intact to a certain degree, and consequently allowed EGCG to be taken into the blood circulation from the intestine.

Gut microbiota as a driver of the interindividual variability of cardiometabolic effects from tea polyphenols

Tea polyphenols have been extensively studied for their preventive properties against cardiometabolic diseases. Nevertheless, the evidence of these effects from human intervention studies is not always consistent, mainly because of a large interindividual variability. The bioavailability of tea polyphenols is low, and metabolism of tea polyphenols highly depends on individual gut microbiota. The accompanying reciprocal relationship between tea polyphenols and gut microbiota may result in alterations in the cardiometabolic effects, however, the underlying mechanism of which is little explored. This review summarizes tea polyphenols-microbiota interaction and its contribution to interindividual variability in cardiometabolic effects. Currently, only a few bacteria that can biodegrade tea polyphenols have been identified and generated metabolites and their bioactivities in metabolic pathways are not fully elucidated. A deeper understanding of the role of complex interaction necessitates fully individualized data, the ntegration of multiple-omics platforms and development of polyphenol-centered databases. Knowledge of this microbial contribution will enable the functional stratification of individuals in the gut microbiota profile (metabotypes) to clarify interindividual variability in the health effects of tea polyphenols. This could be used to predict individual responses to tea polyphenols consumption, hence bringing us closer to personalized nutrition with optimal dose and additional supplementation of specific microorganisms.

Proteomic analysis of stachyose contribution to the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus CICC22162

Stachyose is a functional oligosaccharide, acting as a potential prebiotic for colonic fermentation.