Session : Overcoming the Challenge of Interindividual Variability of the Intestinal Microbiota: Perspectives for Research and Industry

Abstract to come.

Inter-individual variations of the gut microbiome may have a pivotal influence over the efficacy of medical and nutritional interventions. This phenomenon poses a challenge to experimental reproducibility, potentially undermining established products and hindering the development of novel solutions. Unveiling the mechanisms driving microbiome-related variability is thus crucial. While identifying key strains and genes explaining this variability remains vital, understanding the ecological context in which these interventions operate is equally important.  
We recently detected a latent organization of the human gut microbiome termed “enterobranches,” which have the potential to guide future endeavors aimed at comprehending or developing microbiome-directed solutions—ranging from precision pro/prebiotics to functional foods and microbiome-targeted drugs.

On a daily basis, we ingest hundreds of polyphenols through the consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes, tea, coffee, dark chocolate, and other plant-derived foods. These plant bioactives can significantly contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and other age-related pathologies through mechanisms that have been extensively studied. However, fully elucidating their effects remains challenging due to the difficulty in accurately estimating individual exposures to various polyphenols and their active metabolites. Indeed, exposure profiles not only vary based on individuals’ dietary choices but also depend on their metabolic capacities and intestinal microbiota. Polyphenols are extensively metabolized by intestinal and hepatic enzymes as well as the gut microbiota, and substantial inter-individual differences in this metabolism are known to influence the effects of polyphenol consumption through food.

Open metabolomics based on high-resolution mass spectrometry now allows for the measurement of hundreds of blood or urine metabolites directly derived from our diet. Through a few examples, it will be demonstrated how this exploratory approach has opened the possibility of discovering a new generation of biomarkers for the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods, as well as studying inter-individual variability in the metabolism of these plant bioactives.

Abstract to come.

Stay tuned, the panel abstract will be available soon.