Four common dietary polyphenols underwent in vitro human gastrointestinal digestion.
Colonic microbial biotransformation decreased the concentration of pure polyphenolic compounds.
Microbial metabolites included dihydrocaffeic, phenylpropionic, phenylacetic and vanillic acids.
Polyphenols increased antioxidant capacity and colonic short chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentrations.
Microbial metabolites and SCFA showed differing profiles in each of the colonic compartments.