title: Whole-grain rye and wheat alkylresorcinols are incorporated into human erythrocyte membranes.
abstract: Alkylresorcinols (AR), a group of phenolic lipids, exist in the human diet in whole-grain rye and wheat. They are absorbed by humans and have been quantified in plasma. In this 2-week study we assessed AR incorporation into human erythrocyte membranes. Nine subjects attended the study; four avoided whole-grain products for 1 week and then included whole-grain rye and wheat bread in the diet for the second week, four included whole-grain rye and wheat products in the diet during the whole follow-up and one followed a gluten-free diet. Plasma and erythrocyte membrane AR were analysed after weeks 1 and 2. Erythrocyte membrane AR concentrations increased an average of 231 nmol/l of packed erythrocytes (P=0.036) after consumption of whole-grain rye and wheat products. Plasma AR levels increased an average of 175 nmol/l (P=0.058). When intake of whole-grain products was constant, erythrocyte membrane and plasma AR levels remained stable. Long-chain AR were incorporated into erythrocyte membranes in a higher proportion compared to shorter-chain AR. This preliminary study shows that AR are incorporated into human erythrocyte membranes in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Preventive Medicine, Nutrition and Cancer, Folkhälsan Research Center and Division of Clinical Chemistry, P.O. Box 63, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland. Anna.Linko@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Linko
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adlercreutz
mesh_terms: D001939:Bread / Q000032:analysis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012434:Secale / Q000378:metabolism*; D014908:Triticum / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D012118:Resorcinols