Dietary Polyphenols and Gut Microbiota: Unveiling Mechanisms for Functional Food Innovation

In recent years, there has been an increased interest on the relationship between diet and human health, particularly in relation to the gut microbiota, a diverse and complex microbial community. Among various dietary components, polyphenols are the predominant bioactive compounds found in many foods including fruits, vegetables, tea, wine, and other plant-based foods. Evidence increasingly shows that polyphenols play a pivotal role in modulating gut microbiota composition and activity. In turn, the gut microbiota influences the chemical structure, bioavailability and biological effects of polyphenols. Despite this progress, there are still challenges and limited understanding regarding the precise mechanisms, structural changes, and translational applications of dietary polyphenols for gut health and disease prevention. This highlights the need for further research in this area.

This Research Topic focuses on the intricate relationships between dietary polyphenols and the gut microbiota. It aims to bring together original research articles and reviews that expand our knowledge of these interactions and their implications for human health. By synthesizing current research, this collection aims to identify opportunities for developing functional foods that target gut health, offering new strategies for disease prevention and health promotion.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanistic insights into how polyphenols influence microbiota composition, diversity, and function.

• Structural aspects of polyphenols and their differential effects on microbial metabolism.

• The role of gut microbes in modulating the bioavailability and bioactivity of polyphenols.

• Novel analytical methods and omics approaches for studying polyphenol–microbiota interactions.

• Applications of polyphenol-rich foods or supplements in functional food design, health promotion, and disease prevention.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Dietary Polyphenols, Functional Foods, Gut Microbiota, Bioavailability, Metabolomics, Gut Health, Microbiota Modulation, Food Chemistry, Nutraceuticals, Nutrigenomics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.