Evaluating the digestive profile and microbiota-driven health effects of locally produced fruits in the Greater Region

Despite the proven beneficial health effects of fruit consumption, around 30% of food waste in the Greater Region (France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg) corresponds to fruits, while fruit intake remains below dietary guidelines recommendations (EUROSTAT, 2025; Sciensano, 2023).
Locally produced fruits (apples, pears, grapes, mirabelle plums, and strawberries) are important sources of micronutrients and bioactive compounds (WHO, 2026). Furthermore, whole fruits provide substrates that reach the colon, where the gut microbiota transforms them into bioactive compounds that may benefit the host, such as short-chain fatty acids produced from dietary fiber fermentation and polyphenol metabolites (Armet et al., 2022). However, studying whole fruits' effects on microbiota-driven responses presents methodological challenges, as compounds normally absorbed in the small intestine must be removed to accurately simulate colonic exposure.
As part of the GReen Logistik project, this study aims to assess how locally produced fruits influence microbiota-driven health outcomes. For this, in vitro digestion models will be used to determine the digestive profile of local fruits and the transformation of fruit components by the gut microbiota.
This study proposes to use an in vitro digestion model for the upper gastrointestinal tract (based on the international consensus INFOGEST), coupled with in vitro fermentation models. Absorbable and non-absorbable compounds from fruits will be separated and analyzed to assess changes in sugar availability and antioxidant activity during in vitro digestion.
This work is currently in progress and is expected to enhance our understanding of how locally produced fruits influence microbiota-driven health effects, supporting evidence-based strategies to promote fruit consumption and improve the nutritional regional environment.
GReen Logistik is a project founded by the Interreg program, as a cross-border cooperative initiative in the Greater Region.