Jornal de Probióticos e Saúde
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The Effects of Green Tea Bio-active Components on Human Gut Microbiome: Implications in Cardio-metabolic and Mental Health

Joanna Michalina Jurek, Nicola Stanislawska

Different dietary components, in particular those of plant origin, have been implicated in maintaining appropriate cardio-metabolic and mental health. Although many mechanisms have been proposed, certain phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, by promoting appropriate gut microbiome function, are thought to improve metabolic health indices and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as depression, obesity, and diabetes. Polyphenols, a diverse group of over 8,000 bio-actives, dominated by those of plant origin, have been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties, prompting research efforts into investigating sources of these phytochemicals. A significant amount of plant bio-actives are found in many fruits and vegetables, however certain beverages, like tea, can also act as a rich source of them. To date, many studies have demonstrated that regular intake of tea, in particular green tea, may help with glycemic control, boost metabolism as well as lower subjective feelings of stress and anxiety. In addition, there is also growing evidence indicating that these effects may be linked with the influence of green tea polyphenols on gut microbiota composition, which has been demonstrated to increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, while hindering the growth of specific potentially harmful species like Bacillus cereus, Campylobacterjejuni, Clostridium perfringens. These modulating properties may further help to correct microbial dysbiosis, which is a contributing factor to the development of various diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and depression. Therefore, based on the existing experimental and epidemiological research, this study aims to review the current evidence on green tea bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, and their effects on both cardio-metabolic and mental health mediated through gut microbiome.