Method and composition for production of a phytonutrient in a microbiome

Abstract

A method useful for providing a phytonutrient to a subject via mediation of the subject’s microbiome is disclosed. The method includes administering a phytofunctional composition to a subject change the phytonutrient producer status of the subject. The method may also include identifying a phytonutrient producer status of the subject by assessing a level of at least one of a preselected phytonutrient and a preselected phytonutrient precursor compound within the subject. A phytofunctional composition useful in the method is also disclosed, and comprises a phytonutrient precursor compound and an active agent. The active agent comprises a probiotic and/or a prebiotic, and is adapted to mediate production of the preselected phytonutrient in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, thereby changing the phytonutrient producer status of the subject.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A phytofunctional composition for mediating a subject’s microbial metabolism, the phytofunctional composition comprising:
 a phytonutrient precursor compound, and 
 an active agent comprising a probiotic or a prebiotic, the active agent being adapted to mediate production of a preselected phytonutrient from the phytonutrient precursor compound in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. 
 
     
     
         16 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 15 , wherein the phytonutrient precursor compound comprises: (i) quercetin; (ii) cyanidin-3-glucoside; (iii) epigallocatechin; (iv) hesperidin; (v) ellagic acid; (vi) secoisolariciresinol diglucoside; (vii) a metabolite of any of (i)-(vi); or (viii) any combination of (i)-(vii). 
     
     
         17 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 15 , wherein the active agent of the phytofunctional composition comprises the probiotic, and wherein the probiotic comprises a bacterial strain capable of metabolizing the phytonutrient precursor compound to increase the level of the preselected phytonutrient in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. 
     
     
         18 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 17 , wherein the probiotic comprises: (i) a Bifidobacterium spp.; (ii) a Lactobacillus spp.; or (iii) both (i) and (ii). 
     
     
         19 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 15 , wherein the phytonutrient is preselected from 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid, parargonidin-3-O-glucoside, hesperitin, urolithin A, hydroferulic acid, hydrocaffeic acid, and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. 
     
     
         20 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 15 , wherein the phytonutrient precursor compound is further defined as a first phytonutrient precursor compound and the preselected phytonutrient is further defined as a first preselected phytonutrient; wherein the phytofunctional composition further comprises a second phytonutrient precursor compound; and wherein the active agent is adapted to mediate production of the first preselected phytonutrient from the first phytonutrient precursor compound and a second preselected phytonutrient from the second phytonutrient precursor compound in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. 
     
     
         21 . A multi-dose treatment regimen comprising the phytofunctional composition of  claim 15 , where the amount of the phytofunctional composition in each dose and timing of each dose is selected to maintain the changed phytonutrient-producer status of the subject for a majority of a treatment period. 
     
     
         22 . A subject-specific phytofunctional composition for mediating a subject’s microbial metabolism based on the subject’s particular phytonutrient-producer status, the subject-specific phytofunctional composition comprising:
 a phytonutrient precursor compound identified by a phytonutrient-producer status of the subject; and 
 an active agent comprising a probiotic, the active agent being adapted to mediate production of a preselected phytonutrient from the phytonutrient precursor compound in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, thereby changing the phytonutrient-producer status of the subject; 
 wherein the probiotic comprises a bacterial strain capable of metabolizing the phytonutrient precursor compound to increase the level of the preselected phytonutrient in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. 
 
     
     
         23 . The subject-specific phytofunctional composition of  claim 22 , wherein the active agent is also identified based on the phytonutrient-producer status of the subject. 
     
     
         24 . The subject-specific phytofunctional composition of  claim 22 , wherein the phytonutrient precursor compound comprises a processed plant material, optionally wherein the processed plant material is extracted, distilled, hydrolyzed, or otherwise derived from plant material, via natural and/or synthetic methods. 
     
     
         25 . The subject-specific phytofunctional composition of  claim 22 , wherein the phytonutrient precursor compound comprises metabolized plant material produced from microbial metabolism and/or digestion. 
     
     
         26 . A multi-dose treatment regimen comprising the subject-specific phytofunctional composition of  claim 22 , where the amount of the phytofunctional composition in each dose and timing of each dose is selected to maintain the changed phytonutrient-producer status of the subject for a majority of a treatment period. 
     
     
         27 . A kit for making and administering the subject-specific phytofunctional composition of  claim 22 , the kit including the probiotic component and the phytonutrient precursor component, wherein the components are provided for compounding and administration of the subject-specific phytofunctional composition. 
     
     
         28 . A phytofunctional composition for increasing phytonutrient production of a subject, the phytofunctional composition comprising:
 a phytonutrient that is not metabolized by the subject; and   an active agent comprising a probiotic or a prebiotic, the active agent for metabolizing the phytonutrient to increase the level and production of the metabolized phytonutrients in the subject.   
     
     
         29 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 28 , wherein the phytonutrient precursor compound comprises a processed plant material, optionally wherein the processed plant material is extracted, distilled, hydrolyzed, or otherwise derived from plant material, via natural and/or synthetic methods. 
     
     
         30 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 28 , wherein the active agent is identified based on the phytonutrient-producer status of the subject and determining the phytonutrient-producer status of the subject is further defined as comparing a biological concentration and/or excretion amount of a phytonutrient of the subject against commensurate measurements obtained from other subjects. 
     
     
         31 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 28 , wherein the active agent is identified based on a population study to determine the phytonutrient-producer status of various individuals among the population. 
     
     
         32 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 28 , wherein the active agent of the phytofunctional composition comprises the prebiotic, and wherein the prebiotic comprises at least one fiber. 
     
     
         33 . The phytofunctional composition of  claim 28 , wherein the active agent of the phytofunctional composition comprises the prebiotic, and wherein the prebiotic comprises at least one starch. 
     
     
         34 . A multi-dose treatment regimen comprising the phytofunctional composition of  claim 28 , where the amount of the phytofunctional composition in each dose and timing of each dose is selected to maintain the changed phytonutrient-producer status for a majority of a treatment period.