Frontiers in Gut Health: The Emerging Role of Berries in Microbiota Modulation and Gastrointestinal Diseases - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #gut microbiota
- #berries
- #gastrointestinal health
- Berries contain bioactive compounds like polyphenols, fiber, and micronutrients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbiota-modulating properties.
- Berry intake positively influences gut health across four domains: microbiota composition/function, intestinal barrier integrity, immune/inflammatory pathways, and clinical symptoms/biomarkers.
- Berries increase beneficial gut bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, and Roseburia and boost short-chain fatty acid production, with polyphenols acting as both microbial substrates and modulators (the 'duplibiotic effect').
- In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), anthocyanin-rich berries may support remission by enhancing microbial diversity and reducing inflammation.
- In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), low-FODMAP berries like blueberries can relieve symptoms through anti-inflammatory and microbiota-modulating effects.
- Berries may help prevent gastrointestinal cancers by affecting Wnt signaling, COX-2 expression, and DNA methylation.
- While early studies are promising, larger human trials are needed to confirm effects and personalize interventions.