Can cranberry extracts help improve intestinal microbiota?

The study was published in the journal NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes.

Cranberries and berries are associated with multiple health benefits, mainly attributed to their high content of polyphenols, in the form of tannins. They also contain high concentrations of oligosaccharides, small fibres that may contribute to their bioactivity.

Cranberry extracts also stimulate the Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium, which plays an important role in the intestinal mucosa, helping to reduce inflammation and strengthen the intestinal barrier. When included into a balanced diet, cranberry extracts could modify the inflammatory pathway and improve the prognosis of a chronic disease. This results in strengthening the connections between the cells of the intestinal barrier.

In the study, approximately forty participants recruited at INAF were instructed to consume a cranberry supplement in capsule form twice daily, morning and evening, which is equivalent to ingesting 60 grams of fresh cranberries. At the beginning of the experiment and after four days, samples of plasma, urine, and stool were collected from participants.

Although cranberries had a beneficial effect on all participants, the results highlighted variability in their responses which suggested future research toidentify which microbiota signatures respond best to the extracts.

"This diet alters the microbiota, causes inflammation of the mucosa, and compromises the integrity of the intestinal barrier, which plays a crucial role in protecting the body from bacteria present in the gut. Alteration of the intestinal barrier allows the passage of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) derived from the intestinal microbiota, known as metabolic endotoxemia, and is a crucial factor in the onset and progression of inflammation and metabolic diseases," explained Yves Desjardins, professor at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and lead author of the study.

Reference: Lessard-Lord, J., et al. (2024). Short term supplementation with cranberry extract modulates gut microbiota in human and displays a bifidogenic effect. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00493-w.