Metabolomic profiling of urinary phenolic compounds in postmenopausal women after consumption of dark chocolate, green tea, and fruit juice

Postmenopausal women are approximately twice as likely to develop cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) as premenopausal women. Plant-based diets rich in fruits and vegetables, due to their high content of bioactive compounds such as (poly)phenols, represent a promising strategy to reduce the risk of CMDs in this population. However, the cardioprotective effects of (poly)phenols depend largely on inter-individual variability, which is strongly influenced by the gut microbiota composition. Menopause is often associated with gut dysbiosis, characterized by a reduced microbial diversity and a lower abundance of beneficial bacteria. This imbalance in the gut microbiota profile of postmenopausal women could influence (poly)phenol metabolism and, consequently, the health benefits attributed to (poly)phenol-rich food (PP-rich food) consumption. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of a daily consumption of PP-rich foods (dark chocolate, green tea and fruit juice) for 2 months on the urinary phenolic profile in postmenopausal women at high cardiometabolic risk. To this end, 116 urinary phenolic metabolites were determined using UHPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS. Dietary intervention with PP-rich foods led to a significant increase in the urinary excretion of phenolic metabolites derived from gut microbiota activity and phase II metabolism. Notably, there was a significant increase in the excretion of glucuronidated and/or sulfated conjugates of phenyl-γ-valerolactones, phenylvaleric acids, phenylacetic acids, benzoic acids, and urolithins. It is expected that these phenolic metabolites could be the bioactive compounds responsible for the potential beneficial effects derived from the daily intake of dark chocolate, green tea, and fruit juice on the reduction of the risk of CMDs in postmenopausal women.