Bioavailability, Metabolism, and Health Effects of Phenolic Compounds

Dear Colleagues,

Fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with reducing the onset of several chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Phenolic compounds, abundantly present in these foods, are considered the molecular effectors of these health-promoting effects. A growing body of evidence from both in vivo and in vitro studies suggests that a high intake of these compounds may be protective against several diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. The health effects of phenolic compounds are related to their biological properties, including their ability to interact with enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in human pathologies, beyond their antioxidant properties.

Once ingested, phenolic compounds must be released from the food matrix to make them available for intestinal absorption. Only a small portion of ingested phenolic compounds is absorbed at the intestinal level, while most of them reach the colon, fundamentally modified by the colonic flora, producing low-molecular-weight metabolites that are further absorbed, reaching the systemic circulation. Additionally, endogenous metabolism at intestinal and hepatic levels may further modify the structure of phenolic compounds. Therefore, not only the parent phenolic compounds found in vegetables but also endogenous and colonic metabolites may be responsible for the protective effects of these molecules on human health.

This Special Issue aims to collect research and review articles encompassing all the aspects related to the gastrointestinal fate, absorption, metabolism, gut microbiota interaction, and health properties of phenolic compounds and their metabolites. Both in vivo and in vitro studies on these topics are welcomed. The scope of this Special Issue is to contribute to advancing scientific research in an exciting and rapidly growing field of research with significant implications for human health.

Dr. Davide Tagliazucchi
Dr. Alice Cattivelli
Guest Editors

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• phenolic compounds
• gut microbiota
• metabolism
• cardiovascular diseases
• cancer
• anti-proliferative activity
• bioavailability
• bioaccessibility