Clustering according to urolithin metabotype explains the interindividual variability in the improvement of cardiovascular risk biomarkers in overweight‐obese individuals consuming pomegranate: A randomized clinical trial. Issue 5 (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: González‐Sarrías, Antonio; García‐Villalba, Rocío; Romo‐Vaquero, María; Alasalvar, Cesarettin; Örem, Asim; Zafrilla, Pilar; Tomás‐Barberán, Francisco A.; Selma, María V.; Espín, Juan Carlos
• Is Part Of: Molecular nutrition & food research. Volume 61:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Cardiometabolic -- EFSA -- Gut microbiota -- Metabotype -- Urolithins; Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Food -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food Microbiology -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; 664.0705
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201600830
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-4125

Abstract

Abstract : The high interindividual variability prevents the improvement of serum cardiovascular disease risk markers in healthy overweight‐obese subjects following pomegranate supplementation. However, urolithin metabotype clustering reveales a significant improvement of the blood lipid profile only in urolithin metabotype B individuals. This suggests a personalized effect of ellagitannin‐containing foods and could explain the controversial pomegranate benefits and the lack of European Food Safety Authority related health claims. Abstract : Scope: The pomegranate lipid‐lowering properties remain controversial, probably due to the interindividual variability in polyphenol (ellagitannins) metabolism. Objective: We aimed at investigating whether the microbially derived ellagitannin‐metabolizing phenotypes, i.e. urolithin metabotypes A, (UM‐A), B (UM‐B), and 0 (UM‐0), influence the effects of pomegranate extract (PE) consumption on 18 cardiovascular risk biomarkers in healthy overweight‐obese individuals. Methods and results: A double‐blind, crossover, dose–response, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted. The study ( POMEcardio ) consisted of two test phases (dose‐1 and dose‐2, lasting 3 weeks each) and a 3‐week washout period between each phase. Forty‐nine participants (BMI > 27 kg/m 2 ) daily consumed one (dose‐1, 160 mg phenolics/day) or four (dose‐2, 640 mg phenolics/day) PE or placebo capsules. Notably, UM‐B individuals showed the highest baseline cardiovascular risk. After dose‐2, total cholesterol (–15.5 ± 3.7%), LDL‐cholesterol (–14.9 ± 2.1%), small LDL‐cholesterol (–47 ± 7%), non‐HDL‐cholesterol (–11.3 ± 2.5%), apolipoprotein‐B (–12 ± 2.2%), and oxidized LDL‐cholesterol –24 ± 2.5%) dose dependently decreased ( P < 0.05) but only in UM‐B subjects. These effects were partially correlated with urolithin production and the increase in Gordonibacter levels. Three (50%) nonproducers (UM‐0) became producers following PE consumption. Conclusions: UM clustering suggests a personalized effect of ellagitannin‐containing foods and could explain the controversial pomegranate benefits. Research on the specific role of urolithins and the microbiota associated with each UM is warranted.