This is Volume II of the Research Topic "Interactions between Bioactive Food Ingredients and Intestinal Microbiota". The previous edition can be found here. Numerous microorganisms colonize the gastrointestinal tract playing critical roles concerning digestion and absorption of dietary nutrients and the regulation of important functions, including host metabolism, immunity, and intestinal barrier function. Increasing evidence suggests that food encompassing nutrients and polyphenols are strong drivers shaping the composition and function of the gut microbiota and mediate the host's physiological activities directly or indirectly. However, the mechanisms involved in the interactions between food nutrients/prebiotics, gut microbiota and host health have not been enlightened to a wide extent.

“Infogest” (Improving Health Properties of Food by Sharing our Knowledge on the Digestive Process) is an EU COST action/network in the domain of Food and Agriculture that will last for 4 years from April 4, 2011. Infogest aims at building an open international network of institutes undertaking multidisciplinary basic research on food digestion gathering scientists from different origins (food scientists, gut physiologists, nutritionists...). The network gathers 70 partners from academia, corresponding to a total of 29 countries. The three main scientific goals are: Identify the beneficial food components released in the gut during digestion; Support the effect of beneficial food components on human health; Promote harmonization of currently used digestion models Infogest meetings highlighted the need for a publication that would provide researchers with an insight into the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of respective in vitro and ex vivo assays to evaluate the effects of foods and food bioactives on health. Such assays are particularly important in situations where a large number of foods/bioactives need to be screened rapidly and in a cost effective manner in order to ultimately identify lead foods/bioactives that can be the subject of in vivo assays. The book is an asset to researchers wishing to study the health benefits of their foods and food bioactives of interest and highlights which in vitro/ex vivo assays are of greatest relevance to their goals, what sort of outputs/data can be generated and, as noted above, highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the various assays. It is also an important resource for undergraduate students in the ‘food and health’ arena.

Bioactive Food Components Activity in Mechanistic Approach presents the role of functional foods and bioactive compounds in inflammation. This book focuses on bioactive compounds, including phenolics, prebiotics, carotenoids, tocopherols, bioactive peptides, probiotics, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, and describes their actions in several diseases, mainly obesity and co-morbidities, inflammatory bowel disease, cognitive decline and cancer, and aging. Intended for food, nutrition, and nutraceutical researchers, as well as those studying related fields, the book offers a mechanistic approach that is currently lacking in the market. Explores the mechanistic approach of functional foods in health and disease Contains definitions, case studies, applications, literature reviews, recent developments and text boxes Provides coverage of phenolic compounds, prebiotics and probiotics, carotenoids, tocopherols, bioactive peptides, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, and sulfur compounds

Drawing on expert opinions from the fields of nutrition, gut microbiology, mammalian physiology, and immunology, Diet-Microbe Interactions for Human Health investigates the evidence for a unified disease mechanism working through the gut and its resident microbiota, and linking many inflammation-related chronic diet associated diseases. State of the art post-genomic studies can highlight the important role played by our resident intestinal microbiota in determining human health and disease. Many chronic human diseases associated with modern lifestyles and diets — including those localized to the intestinal tract like inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease, and more pervasive systemic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease — are characterized by aberrant profiles of gut bacteria or their metabolites. Many of these diseases have an inflammatory basis, often presenting with a chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, hinting at persistent and inappropriate activation of inflammatory pathways. Through the presentation and analysis of recent nutrition studies, this book discusses the possible mechanisms underpinning the disease processes associated with these pathologies, with high fat diets appearing to predispose to disease, and biologically active plant components, mainly fiber and polyphenols, appearing to reduce the risk of chronic disease development. - One comprehensive, translational source for all aspects of nutrition and diet's effect on gastrointestinal health and disease - Experts in nutrition, diet, microbiology and immunology take readers from the bench research (cellular and biochemical mechanisms of vitamins and nutrients) to new preventive and therapeutic approaches - Clear presentations by leading researchers of the cellular mechanisms underlying diet, immune response, and gastrointestinal disease help practicing nutritionists and clinicians (gastroenterologists, endocrinologists) map out new areas for clinical research and structuring clinical recommendations

The field of microbial endocrinology is expressly devoted to understanding the mechanisms by which the microbiota (bacteria within the microbiome) interact with the host (“us”). This interaction is a two-way street and the driving force that governs these interactions are the neuroendocrine products of both the host and the microbiota. Chapters include neuroendocrine hormone-induced changes in gene expression and microbial endocrinology and probiotics. This is the first in a series of books dedicated to understanding how bi-directional communication between host and bacteria represents the cutting edge of translational medical research, and hopefully identifies new ways to understand the mechanisms that determine health and disease.​

The proper nutrition can aid disease prevention and ensure an overall healthy lifestyle. In nutrition, certain natural and processed foods are particularly useful in achieving and maintaining health goals. Nutraceuticals and Innovative Food Products for Healthy Living and Preventive Care is a comprehensive reference source for the latest research findings on food components that provide health and medical benefits, including the prevention, treatment, and cures for numerous diseases. Featuring extensive coverage on relevant areas such as functional foods, alternative medicine, and nutrition, this publication is an ideal resource for medical practitioners, nutritionists, upper-level students, researchers, and academicians seeking information on the use of food products in health management.