Anthocyanins-gut microbiota-health axis: A review

• Published in: Critical reviews in food science and nutrition Vol. 64; no. 21; pp. 7563 - 7588
• Main Authors: Liang, Anqi, Leonard, William, Beasley, Jesse T., Fang, Zhongxiang, Zhang, Pangzhen, Ranadheera, Chaminda Senaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 17-08-2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acid production; Anthocyanins; Anthocyanins - pharmacology; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Bioaccumulation; Biological effects; cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Chronic Disease - prevention & control; Chronic illnesses; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Diet; Digestive system; Disease; Fatty Acids, Volatile - metabolism; Fatty liver; Flavonoids; Fruit - chemistry; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - drug effects; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - physiology; Gastrointestinal tract; gut health; Humans; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - microbiology; Intestinal microflora; Intestine; Kidney diseases; Large intestine; Liver cancer; Liver diseases; Metabolites; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Neoplasms - prevention & control; Neurodegenerative diseases; obesity; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - microbiology; Osteoarthritis; Pharmaceuticals; Phenolic acids; Phenols; polyphenol; Populations; Vegetables - chemistry; Antioxidants; gut health; polyphenol; obesity; cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases
• ISSN: 1040-8398; 1549-7852; 1549-7852
• DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2187212

Anthocyanins are a subclass of flavonoids responsible for color in some fruits and vegetables with potent antioxidative capacity. During digestion, a larger proportion of dietary anthocyanins remains unabsorbed and reach the large intestine where they interact with the gut microbiota. Anthocyanins can modulate gut microbial populations to improve diversity and the proportion of beneficial populations, leading to alterations in short chain fatty acid and bile acid production. Some anthocyanins can be degraded into colonic metabolites, such as phenolic acids, which accumulate in the body and regulate a range of biological activities. Here we provide an overview of the effects of dietary anthocyanin consumption on gut microbial interactions, metabolism, and composition. Progression of chronic diseases has been strongly associated with imbalances in gut microbial populations. We therefore focus on the role of the gut microbiota as the 'mediator' that facilitates the therapeutic potential of anthocyanins against various chronic diseases, including obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease and osteoarthritis.