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Author's details:

Dr. Muguerza is a BSc and PhD in Biology. She is a full Professor in the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Department, at the University Rovira I Virgili, Spain. Dr. Muguerza leads the Nutrigenomics Research Group, focusing its research on the study of the molecular mechanism by which food bioactive components, like (poly)phenols, exert health effects on metabolic pathologies. At present she is interested in the study of the interaction of the biological rhythms with the effectiveness of bioactive ingredients.

She has participated continuously in competitive projects, being PI of over 50. Dr. Muguerza is co-author of more than 150 articles in high-impact scientific journals and 15 patents. She has supervised 9 doctoral theses and currently she is mentoring 3 PhD students. In addition, she has also carried out management activities, being Head of the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Department and Coordinator of the Official Master Interuniversity Nutrition and Metabolism. Currently, she is the Coordinator of the Doctoral Programme in Nutrigenomics and Personalized Nutrition.

Fields of Expertise: Phenolic compounds; Proanthocyanins; Metabolic syndrome; Biological rhythms; Cafeteria diet-fed rats. 

Abstract:

(Poly)phenols are important plant food compounds that exert health effects. Proanthocyanins (PACs) are a class of polyphenols composed of flavanol polymers and their gallate derivatives. Our group recently demonstrated that their bioavailability and bioactivity depend on biological rhythms. Nevertheless, the interaction between phenolic compounds and biological rhythms seems to be bidirectional, as some of them have demonstrated their activity as modulators of circadian and seasonal rhythms. In this regard, our group demonstrated that PACs can modulate central and peripheral biological rhythms, both in healthy animals under jet-lag conditions and in obese rats. The interaction of phenolic compounds with the clock system has recently been postulated to be a potential mechanism for their beneficial effects.

Moreover, the results of phenol-rich fruits administered to rats exposed to different photoperiods to simulate the specific seasons showed that fruit seasonality and their geographical origin determine a distinctive phenolic hallmark from the environment that influences their health effects depending on the photoperiod conditions.

In conclusion, there is a bidirectional interaction between dietary phenolic compounds and biological rhythms, and the time of the day and season in which they are consumed influences their health effects, which, in turn, could be mediated by the interaction of these compounds with the clock system, acting as synchronizers.