New review demonstrates the effects of polyphenol supplementation on the gut microbiome and butyrate production

Polyphenols are naturally occurring plant compounds found in fruits, vegetables, tea, cocoa, coffee, and many botanical extracts. Although traditionally recognized for their antioxidant activity, emerging research suggests that one of their most important mechanisms of action may be through modulation of the gut microbiome.

A recent review published last month in Nutrients evaluated the effects of polyphenol supplementation on gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. This review included 50 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving more than 2,000 participants and examined changes in beneficial bacterial populations, microbial diversity, and fecal SCFA concentrations.

The researcher team found that polyphenol supplementation was consistently associated with beneficial shifts in gut microbial composition including increases in Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii across many of the included studies, while potentially undesirable bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae and certain Clostridium species tended to decrease.

One of the most notable findings was a significant increase in butyrate production. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid produced through microbial fermentation and serves as a primary energy source for colonocytes while supporting intestinal barrier integrity, immune regulation, and metabolic health. This review demonstrated a moderate but significant increase in butyrate concentrations following polyphenol supplementation, with total SCFA production increasing in ~71% of the studies.

The review also found improvements in microbial diversity, a marker commonly associated with a healthy gut ecosystem. These effects were generally more pronounced in individuals with metabolic dysfunction and in interventions lasting 12 weeks or longer.

Subgroup analyses suggested that flavonoid-rich polyphenols were particularly effective at increasing Bifidobacterium and butyrate production, while phenolic acid-rich interventions demonstrated strong effects on Akkermansia muciniphila and total SCFA concentrations.

Overall, these findings support the growing body of evidence that polyphenols may act as important microbiome-modulating compounds capable of enhancing beneficial bacterial populations and increasing production of health-promoting metabolites such as butyrate.

Given the critical role of the gut microbiome in gastrointestinal, metabolic, and immune health, healthcare practitioners should consider polyphenol-rich foods and targeted polyphenol supplementation as part of a comprehensive strategy to support microbial diversity, intestinal barrier function, and healthy metabolic outcomes.

By Michael Jurgelewicz, DC, MSCR, CNS, LDN

Source: Alshatari S, Ziarno M. Effects of Polyphenol Supplementation on Gut Microbiota Composition and Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2026;18(11):1762. doi:10.3390/nu18111762.

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