Can We Use Metabolomics to Understand Changes to Gut Microbiota Populations and Function? A Nutritional Perspective
Book chapter, 2015
Food is an integral part of human life, and the composition of our diet is an important determinant of our health and well-being. Food is also the main source of energy and nutrients for the gut microbiota, the 100 trillion cells that coexist inside us. The impact of macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber) and specific non-nutrient food components (polyphenols) will be reviewed in the context of gut microbial function and interaction with the host. Colonic microbiota provides diverse enzymatic activities differing from our own, which lead to the production of metabolites essential for key metabolic functions, including carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Certain gut metabolites are specific to microbial activity and confer functionalities beyond energy production, such as signalling cascades across cells, tissues, and organs. Metabolomics has proven to be a useful tool to measure the effects of food on the gut microbiota and its interaction with host metabolism.
Choline
Fiber
Phase II metabolism
Pathways
Digestion
Metabolism
Nutrition
Metabolomics
Whole-grain cereals
p-Cresol sulfate
Chocolate
Carnitine
Branched-chain fatty acids
Hippurate
Colon
Trimethylamine oxide
Microbiota
Indole metabolites
Food
Butyrate
Fat
Short-chain fatty acids
Protein
Phenolic and phenyl metabolites
Gut-liver
Prebiotics
Gut-brain
Intestine
Metabolomics
One carbon metabolism
Diet
Polyphenols
Gut
Carbohydrate
Author
S. Moco
Nestle S.A.
Alastair Ross
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science
Molecular and Integrative Toxicology
21684219 (ISSN) 21684235 (eISSN)
83-108Subject Categories
Cell Biology
Food Science
Nutrition and Dietetics
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4471-6539-2_5