Incomplete metabolism of phytoestrogens by gut microbiota from children under the age of three

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived polyphenols with structural and functional similarities to mammalian oestrogens. The aim of this work was to study the metabolism of phytoestrogens by children’s intestinal microbiota and to compare it with previous results in adults. Faecal samples of 24 healthy children were subjected to phytoestrogen fermentation assay. Only one child produced equol, while O-desmethylangolensin was found in all. Urolithin production was detected in 14 children and enterolactone in 10. Further comparison with the metabolism of phytoestrogens by adult intestinal microbiota reflected that glycitein, dihydrogenistein, urolithins D and E, enterolactone, secoisolariciresinol and arctigenin were the most important metabolites differentiating between adult and child microbial gut metabolism. Although the child intestinal microbiota showed the ability to metabolise isoflavones, ellagitannins and lignans to a certain extent, it generally showed a reduced metabolism of phytoestrogens, with a lack of 5-hydroxy equol and enterodiol, and less urolithins and enterolactone producers.

Keywords:

• Isoflavones
• ellagitannins
• lignans
• children
• microbial metabolism

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Inmaculada Álvarez of the Analysis Services Unit at the Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (Madrid, Spain) for providing chromatography and mass spectrometry facilities.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by project RM2012-00004-00-00 from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, Madrid, Spain). J. M. Landete has a postdoctoral contract with the research programme “Ramón y Cajal” (MINECO).