Health benefits of dietary polyphenols: insight into interindividual variability in absorption and metabolism

Dietary polyphenol intake provides beneficial effects on human health, however, the high interindividual variability in response to polyphenols consumption may affect the final evaluation of clinical outcomes. After ingestion, polyphenols are extensively metabolized by the host and the gut microbiota. There is evidence that metabolism and absorption in the interindividual variability play a key role in health effects of polyphenols. However, current information is mainly the assessment of variations from statistical analysis. This review summarized the latest studies aimed at investigating interindividual variabilities in the health effects of polyphenols, highlighting the role of specific gut microbial strains as well as host gene polymorphisms. Personalized nutrition based on individualized metabolic patterns can help to capture the health benefits of dietary polyphenols. • Latest studies on interindividual variability in health effects of polyphenols. • The role of gene polymorphisms is worth further study. • Identification of microbial metabolic enzymes helps to determine metabotypes. • The overall metabolism pattern of polyphenols in daily diets should be concerned.