Miriam Pertegal

Dr. Miriam Pertegal


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 November 2025 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
María Paula Jarrín OrozcoMaría Paula Jarrín Orozco
María Paula Jarrín Orozco
MVMaría Romo Vaquero
María Romo Vaquero
CCConcepción Carrascosa
Concepción Carrascosa
MPMiriam Pertegal
Miriam Pertegal
Jose BernaJose Berna
Jose Berna
Juan Carlos EspínJuan Carlos Espín
Juan Carlos Espín
Background/Objectives: Interindividual variability in polyphenol metabolism may help explain the inconsistent effects of polyphenol intake on health outcomes. This study compared, for the first time, (i) polyphenol-related gut microbiota metabotypes (urolithins: UM0, UMA, UMB; equol: EP, ENP; lunularin: LP, LNP) and their clusters (MCs) in non-medicated premenopausal (Pre-M) and postmenopausal (Post-M) women and (ii) the impact of an 8-week intake of a polyphenol-rich plant extract mixture (PPs) on the quality of life (QoL) of Post-M. Methods: Polyphenol metabotypes were determined in urine via UPLC-QTOF-MS after a 3-day intake of PPs containing resveratrol, pomegranate (ellagitannins and ellagic acid), and red clover (isoflavones) in Pre-M (n = 120) and Post-M (n = 90) women. QoL was assessed with the short-form Cervantes Scale in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial (8-week PPs vs. placebo), completed by 78 Post-M participants. Results: At baseline, Pre-M and Post-M women showed only minor differences in metabotype and MC distributions linked to menopausal status. MC3 (UMA+EP+LP) predominated in Pre-M, while MC7 (UMA+EP+LNP) was most frequent in Post-M. PPs intake in Post-M women led to modest shifts in metabotype and MC distributions toward Pre-M patterns. Quantitative metabolite production was comparable between groups, except for equol, which showed a median 2.8-fold increase after PPs intake in EP Post-M women. Clinically meaningful improvements (score reduction ≥ 6.7 points) in QoL were observed in the Psychic domain in EP women (28%, p = 0.039) and in the Menopause and Health domain, specifically in EP (24.1%, p = 0.004), MC3 (22.5%, p = 0.043), and MC4 (UMB+EP+LP; 41.3%, p = 0.022), were mainly driven by a reduction in hot flashes (p = 0.001). Conclusions: These findings support metabotyping as a tool to guide targeted dietary strategies and enhance QoL through precision health in Post-M women.