Interindividual differences in the tolerability of aronia juice are associated with changes in the gut microbiome
Background: Aronia melanocarpa is a berry containing high concentrations of polyphenols commonly associated with beneficial health effects. However, the bioaccesability of these phytonutrients has been questioned and the individual acceptance of the fruit with a specific flavor varies. Additionally, great differences in the tolerability of aronia juice have been observed. We aimed to identify potential mechanistic contribution of the gut microbiome on the tolerability and the metabolic outcome of the aronia juice in a six weeks clinical intervention trial followed by a six weeks washout phase. Forty females were randomly assigned to a Verum group (V) receiving natural aronia juice and a Placebo (P) group who drank a polyphenol-free beverage with a similar nutritional profile. Since only half of V tolerated the juice well, the group was further divided into tolerated (Vt) and complaints (Vc) groups. The diversity of the gut microbiome as analyzed by 16S rRNA gene-based next-generation