Estimated fate of ingested polyphenols

Range absorbed in small intestine 5-10%: intensively degraded by microbiota in colon 90-95% %
Organism Human Homo sapiens
Reference Dueñas M et al., Studies on Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Wine Polyphenols: From Isolated Cultures to Omic Approaches. Antioxidants (Basel). 2015 Jan 5 4(1):1-21. doi: 10.3390/antiox4010001. p.4 3rd paragraphPubMed ID26785335
Primary Source [22] Clifford, M.N. Diet-derived phenols in plasma and tissues and their implications for health. Planta Medica 2004, 70, 1103–1114 DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-835835PubMed ID15643541
Comments P.4 3rd paragraph: "Polyphenols are considered as xenobiotics by the human organism and therefore are extensively metabolized and finally eliminated, mainly in the bile but also in the urine. The first step in their metabolism is likely to be deglycosylation before absorption in the small intestine. Hydrolysis of some flavonoid glycosides might have already occurred in the oral cavity, as both saliva and oral microbiota show β-glucosidase activity, giving rise to the corresponding aglycones. The hydrolytic activity begins in the mouth, and continues through the digestive tract into the stomach, where the size of food particles is reduced, which prompts the release of phenolic compounds. It has been estimated that 5%–10% of ingested polyphenols are absorbed in the small intestine, while 90%–95% reach the colon where they are intensively degraded by microbiota into a diversity of bioactive phenolic metabolites, lactones and phenolic acids that are then further absorbed [primary source]."
Entered by Uri M
ID 112856