Plant-based diets is criticized mainly as impaired digestibility of plant proteins. Certain lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are capable of metabolizing plant-derived phenolic compounds, the metabolites of which may have low affinities to proteins and enzymes involved in protein digestion. Therefore, the fermentation with these LAB may be the solution to increase plant protein digestion. Yet, little is known about phenolic metabolites in LAB and effect of phenolic metabolites on protein digestion. PhenolLAB aims to discover the mechanism of phenolics-LAB interaction. By altering phenolic composition in plant foods with optimal LAB strains, it will enhance plant protein digestibility and retain health benefits of phenolics. PhenolLAB also create fermentation models to evaluate the potential of phenolic-metabolizing LAB in food industry. Our novel findings will provide important reference for plant-based food development and solve the major nutritional crisis of plant-based diets.

2024

2028