Dietary proanthocyanidins on gastrointestinal health and the interactions with gut microbiota

Abstract

Many epidemiological and experimental studies have consistently reported the beneficial effects of dietary proanthocyanidins (PAC) on improving gastrointestinal physiological functions. This review aims to present a comprehensive perspective by focusing on structural properties, interactions and gastrointestinal protection of PAC. In brief, the main findings of this review are summarized as follows: (1) Structural features are critical factors in determining the bioavailability and subsequent pharmacology of PAC; (2) PAC and/or their bacterial metabolites can play a direct role in the gastrointestinal tract through their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative properties; (3) PAC can reduce the digestion, absorption, and bioavailability of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids by interacting with them or their according enzymes and transporters in the gastrointestinal tract; (4). PAC showed a prebiotic-like effect by interacting with the microflora in the intestinal tract, and the enhancement of PAC on a variety of probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. could be associated with potential benefits to human health. In conclusion, the potential effects of PAC in prevention and alleviation of gastrointestinal diseases are remarkable but clinical evidence is urgently needed.

Keywords:

• Gastrointestinal disorder
• gut microbiota
• inflammation
• metabolism
• proanthocyanidins

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author contributions

Y. C., J. W., H. C., X. N., and J. X. have contributed to the writing and revising of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This present work was funded by the grant of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 32001830).