Fiber2026-06

Polyphenols from Pulses: Recent Advances in Gut Health Benefits and Strategies to Elevate Their Concentrations.

Wang Jiakai, Wei Rong, Wang Jiahong, Bai Ting et al. — Nutrients

Summary

Pulses, like beans and lentils, contain beneficial polyphenols that interact with our gut and its microbes. These polyphenols help maintain a healthy gut by acting as antioxidants, reducing inflammation, and easing various intestinal issues. They also act as prebiotics, supporting beneficial gut bacteria. Researchers are exploring ways to increase these beneficial compounds in pulses through methods like fermentation and germination, paving the way for new functional foods.

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Abstract

Pulses are rich in diverse phenolic compounds, which play a vital role in human health. The biological activity of pulses' polyphenols is highly dependent on their interaction with the gastrointestinal tract and gut microbiota. Polyphenols from pulses have been proven to be effective in the regulation of gut homeostasis, exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and alleviating various intestinal health problems caused by chronic diseases, thus receiving extensive attention. Furthermore, in view of the prebiotic potential of pulse polyphenols in gut health, they can be enriched by fermentation, germination, and physical-assisted technologies to realize their effective applications. In this review, we systematically summarize and analyze the phenolic compound profiles, which confer extensive gut health benefits, with emphasis on their potential enrichment strategies. A better understanding of polyphenols in pulses may open up new avenues for their application in the development of functional foods.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.3390/nu18121895