Static and dynamic in vitro colonic models reveal the spatiotemporal production of flavan-3-ol catabolites

Flavan-3-ols are the most found flavonoid compounds in the human diet. Polymeric and monomeric flavan-3-ols reach the colonic region intact, where the gut microbiota utilizes them as substrates. In this research work, we investigated the pattern of colonic metabolites associated with flavan-3-ols, conducting a comprehensive analysis that combined (un)targeted metabolomics and in vitro colonic models. Firstly, the proposed flavan-3-ol metabolic pathway was investigated in-depth using a static in vitro model inoculated with different fecal donors. An apple, (−)-epicatechin, and procyanidin C1 were employed as feeding conditions. Small phenolic acids, such as phenylpropanoic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, were positively associated with the apple feeding condition. In contrast, 5-(3ʹ,4ʹ-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone and other specific early intermediates like phenylvaleric acids were positively associated with (−)-epicatechin. Secondly, by employing a dynamic in vitro simulator model of the human digestion system (SHIME), we reconstructed the flavan-3-ol metabolic pathway regionally. In the proximal colon region, we localized catabolites, such as 5-(3ʹ,4ʹ-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone, while in the distal region, we identified mainly small phenolics. Combining static and dynamic in vitro models, we observed differences in the release of flavan-3-ol catabolites, influenced by both the food structure (isolated compounds and a food matrix) and the colonic region. This study sheds light on the colonic catabolism of one of the main dietary (poly)phenols and localizes microbial metabolites.