title: (+)-Catechin is more bioavailable than (-)-catechin: relevance to the bioavailability of catechin from cocoa.
abstract: Catechin is a flavonoid present in fruits, wine and cocoa products. Most foods contain the (+)-enantiomer of catechin but chocolate mainly contains ( - )-catechin, in addition to its major flavanol, ( - )-epicatechin. Previous studies have shown poor bioavailability of catechin when consumed in chocolate. We compared the absorption of ( - ) and (+)-catechin after in situ perfusion of 10, 30 or 50 micromol/l of each catechin enantiomer in the jejunum and ileum in the rat. We also assayed 23 samples of chocolate for (+) and ( - )-catechin. Samples were analyzed using HPLC with a Cyclobond I-2000 RSP chiral column. At all concentrations studied, the intestinal absorption of ( - )-catechin was lower than the intestinal absorption of (+)-catechin (p < 0.01). Plasma concentrations of ( - )-catechin were significantly reduced compared to (+)-catechin (p < 0.05). The mean concentration of ( - )-catechin in chocolate was 218 +/- 126 mg/kg compared to 25 +/- 15 mg/kg (+)-catechin. Our findings provide an explanation for the poor bioavailability of catechin when consumed in chocolate or other cocoa containing products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crespy
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Bryan B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D002392:Catechin