Research suggests that compounds in fruits and vegetables help us stay healthy by supporting the natural beneficial microorganisms in our gut that help us digest food and keep our bodies in balance.
Polyphenols, produced naturally in plants and including the compounds that give fruits and vegetables colour, are one of only a few classes of compounds that reach the colon without being digested. Research by scientists at Plant & Food Research has demonstrated that these compounds are broken down in the colon to produce molecules that have a positive effect on microorganisms naturally found in the digestive system. Healthy populations of these microorganisms are known to be beneficial to human health, supporting digestion and the immune system.
“Dietary fibre and polyphenols both reach the colon and therefore can have an effect on colonic microbiota,” says Dr Shanthi Parkar who led the research. “Many studies have shown the beneficial effects of dietary fibre, but polyphenols have not been widely studied as yet.
“Our research has shown that the polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables are broken down by bacteria in the colon. Our studies in the lab have shown that these simpler products influence the microorganisms in the digestive system to support optimum gut health. Our next step is to check that this also happens in the gut environment but, if our studies are proved correct, it may be possible to extract these plant polyphenols and use them as ingredients in functional foods that promote gut health.”
The research is published in the journal Anaerobe.
Source: New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd
