ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of and a brief update on the metabolic fate and mechanisms of action of coffee polyphenols that may exert beneficial health effects. In general, following ingestion, CGAs contained in coffee will undergo digestion, absorption, and metabolism by the liver before distribution, whereas the remaining unabsorbed fraction will undergo metabolism by the gut microbiota in the intestine before being absorbed. The mechanisms of action of coffee polyphenols may be performed by their intact and converted forms following metabolism. The associated health benefits from regular coffee consumption include lower risk of cardiovascular disease, liver conditions, and specific cancers. The health effects of coffee stem from the bioactive components contained in and extracted from coffee beans, the majority being phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and diterpenes. Polyphenols represent the largest group of natural compounds found in plants, with more than 8000 known structures.
