Mutual Effects of Free and Nanoencapsulated Phenolic Compounds on Human Microbiota

Phenolic compounds (PC) have many health benefits such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities. All of these activities depend on their chemical structures and their interaction with biological targets in the body. PC occur naturally in polymerized form, linked to glycosides and require metabolic transformation from their ingestion to their absorption. The gut microbiota can transform PC into more easily absorbed metabolites. PC, in turn, have prebiotic and antimicrobial actions on the microbiota. Despite this, their low oral bioavailability still compromises biological performance. Therefore, the use of nanocarriers has been demonstrated to be a useful strategy to improve PC absorption and, consequently, their health effects. Nanotechnology is an excellent alternative able to overcome the limits of oral bioavailability of PC, since it offers protection from degradation during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, nanotechnology is also capable of promoting controlled PC release and modulating the interaction between PC and the microbiota. However, little is known about the impact of nanotechnology on PC effects on the gut microbiota. This review highlights the use of nanotechnology for PC delivery on gut microbiota, focusing on the ability of such formulations to enhance oral bioavailability by applying nanocarriers (polymeric nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles). In addition, the effects of free and nanocarried PC or nanocarriers per se on gut microbiota are also described.