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The gut microbiota urolithin metabotypes revisited: the human metabolism of ellagic acid is mainly determined by aging

Cortés-Martín A, García-Villalba R, González-Sarrías A, Romo-Vaquero M, Loria-Kohen V, Ramírez-de-Molina A, Tomás-Barberán FA, Selma MV, Espín JC
Food & Function 2018 9(8):4100-4106

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 30004553
DOI
10.1039/C8FO00956B

Study snapshot

DesignHuman observational metabotype study
ModelCaucasian participants aged 5-90 years
Sample839
InterventionAssessment of gut-microbiota urolithin metabotypes after ellagic acid/ellagitannin metabolism
DurationCross-sectional metabolic characterization
EndpointsUrolithin metabotype distribution; Age association with urolithin-producing microbiota; Interindividual variability

What the study showed, in plain terms

This large human cohort helps explain the rationale for direct Urolithin A supplementation: people differ substantially in their ability to convert ellagitannins into urolithins, and the distribution of urolithin metabotypes changes with age. It does not show that supplementation improves health.

Key findings

Urolithin metabotypes varied substantially across 839 people.

Age was a major determinant of the microbiota pattern associated with ellagitannin metabolism.

Natural production from food precursors is therefore highly variable between individuals.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Observational metabotype data do not demonstrate health benefit from any metabotype.

The cohort was Caucasian and may not represent all populations.

It does not compare direct Urolithin A supplementation with dietary precursor strategies.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology