Flavanol-Enriched Cocoa Powder Alters the Intestinal Microbiota, Tissue and Fluid Metabolite Profiles, and Intestinal Gene Expression in Pigs

J Nutr. 2016 Apr;146(4):673-80. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.222968. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

Abstract

Background: Consumption of cocoa-derived polyphenols has been associated with several health benefits; however, their effects on the intestinal microbiome and related features of host intestinal health are not adequately understood.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of eating flavanol-enriched cocoa powder on the composition of the gut microbiota, tissue metabolite profiles, and intestinal immune status.

Methods: Male pigs (5 mo old, 28 kg mean body weight) were supplemented with 0, 2.5, 10, or 20 g flavanol-enriched cocoa powder/d for 27 d. Metabolites in serum, urine, the proximal colon contents, liver, and adipose tissue; bacterial abundance in the intestinal contents and feces; and intestinal tissue gene expression of inflammatory markers and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were then determined.

Results: O-methyl-epicatechin-glucuronide conjugates dose-dependently increased (P< 0.01) in the urine (35- to 204-fold), serum (6- to 186-fold), and adipose tissue (34- to 1144-fold) of pigs fed cocoa powder. The concentration of 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid isomers in urine decreased as the dose of cocoa powder fed to pigs increased (75-85%,P< 0.05). Compared with the unsupplemented pigs, the abundance ofLactobacillusspecies was greater in the feces (7-fold,P= 0.005) and that ofBifidobacteriumspecies was greater in the proximal colon contents (9-fold,P= 0.01) in pigs fed only 20 or 10 g cocoa powder/d, respectively. Moreover, consumption of cocoa powder reducedTLR9gene expression in ileal Peyer's patches (67-80%,P< 0.05) and mesenteric lymph nodes (43-71%,P< 0.05) of pigs fed 2.5-20 g cocoa powder/d compared with pigs not supplemented with cocoa powder.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that consumption of cocoa powder by pigs can contribute to gut health by enhancing the abundance ofLactobacillusandBifidobacteriumspecies and modulating markers of localized intestinal immunity.

Keywords: Toll-like receptors; cocoa flavanols; gut microbiota; metabolites; porcine model.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bifidobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Body Weight
  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives
  • Catechin / urine
  • Chocolate / analysis*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Gene Expression
  • Glucuronides / urine
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestines / microbiology*
  • Lactobacillus / isolation & purification
  • Male
  • Peyer's Patches / metabolism
  • Phenols / urine
  • Polyphenols / pharmacology
  • Propionates / urine
  • Swine
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / metabolism

Substances

  • 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid
  • Biomarkers
  • Flavonoids
  • Glucuronides
  • Phenols
  • Polyphenols
  • Propionates
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • epicatechin-glucuronide
  • flavan-3-ol
  • Catechin