Urolithin as a Metabolite of Ellagitannins and Ellagic Acid from Fruits and Nuts Produced by the Gut Microbiota: Its Role on Non-Communicable Diseases

Marcia Ribeiro; Livia Alvarenga; Ludmila F.M.F. Cardozo; Beatriz G. Baptista; Danielle Nascimento; Marta Esgalhado; Denise Mafra

doi:10.1007/s13668-025-00645-0

Urolithin as a Metabolite of Ellagitannins and Ellagic Acid from Fruits and Nuts Produced by the Gut Microbiota: Its Role on Non-Communicable Diseases

Marcia Ribeiro, Livia Alvarenga, Ludmila F.M.F. Cardozo, Beatriz G. Baptista, Danielle Nascimento, Marta Esgalhado, Denise Mafra

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose of review: This narrative review investigates how urolithins produced by the gut microbiota can regulate transcription factors (such as NRF2, NF-kB, and PPAR-γ) associated with senescence, inflammation, and imbalanced redox status. It also discusses the potential benefits of urolithins for patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. Recent Findings: Studies have shown that urolithins have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-atherosclerotic effects. They are also linked to improved mitochondrial function and imbalanced redox associated with activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Summary: Urolithins are metabolites produced by gut microbiota from ellagic acid and ellagitannins, polyphenols primarily found in nuts and fruits, including pomegranates and berries like raspberries, cloudberries, and blackberries.

Original language	English
Article number	55
Journal	Current Nutrition Reports
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-025-00645-0
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient\u00EDfico e Tecnol\u00F3gico (CNPq), Coordena\u00E7\u00E3o de Aperfei\u00E7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00EDvel Superior (CAPES), Funda\u00E7\u00E3o de Amparo \u00E0 Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) support Denise Mafra, and Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P, (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/04567/2020 and https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/04567/2020) support Marta Esgalhado.

Funders	Funder number
FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Denise Mafra

Keywords

Chronic diseases
Ellagic acid
Fruits
Gut microbiota
Urolithin

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s13668-025-00645-0

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title = "Urolithin as a Metabolite of Ellagitannins and Ellagic Acid from Fruits and Nuts Produced by the Gut Microbiota: Its Role on Non-Communicable Diseases",

abstract = "Purpose of review: This narrative review investigates how urolithins produced by the gut microbiota can regulate transcription factors (such as NRF2, NF-kB, and PPAR-γ) associated with senescence, inflammation, and imbalanced redox status. It also discusses the potential benefits of urolithins for patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. Recent Findings: Studies have shown that urolithins have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-atherosclerotic effects. They are also linked to improved mitochondrial function and imbalanced redox associated with activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Summary: Urolithins are metabolites produced by gut microbiota from ellagic acid and ellagitannins, polyphenols primarily found in nuts and fruits, including pomegranates and berries like raspberries, cloudberries, and blackberries.",

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note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.",

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doi = "10.1007/s13668-025-00645-0",

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AU - Ribeiro, Marcia

AU - Alvarenga, Livia

AU - Cardozo, Ludmila F.M.F.

AU - Baptista, Beatriz G.

AU - Nascimento, Danielle

AU - Esgalhado, Marta

AU - Mafra, Denise

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Purpose of review: This narrative review investigates how urolithins produced by the gut microbiota can regulate transcription factors (such as NRF2, NF-kB, and PPAR-γ) associated with senescence, inflammation, and imbalanced redox status. It also discusses the potential benefits of urolithins for patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. Recent Findings: Studies have shown that urolithins have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-atherosclerotic effects. They are also linked to improved mitochondrial function and imbalanced redox associated with activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Summary: Urolithins are metabolites produced by gut microbiota from ellagic acid and ellagitannins, polyphenols primarily found in nuts and fruits, including pomegranates and berries like raspberries, cloudberries, and blackberries.

AB - Purpose of review: This narrative review investigates how urolithins produced by the gut microbiota can regulate transcription factors (such as NRF2, NF-kB, and PPAR-γ) associated with senescence, inflammation, and imbalanced redox status. It also discusses the potential benefits of urolithins for patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. Recent Findings: Studies have shown that urolithins have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-atherosclerotic effects. They are also linked to improved mitochondrial function and imbalanced redox associated with activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Summary: Urolithins are metabolites produced by gut microbiota from ellagic acid and ellagitannins, polyphenols primarily found in nuts and fruits, including pomegranates and berries like raspberries, cloudberries, and blackberries.

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Urolithin as a Metabolite of Ellagitannins and Ellagic Acid from Fruits and Nuts Produced by the Gut Microbiota: Its Role on Non-Communicable Diseases

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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