Milk does not affect the bioavailability of cocoa powder flavonoid in healthy human.
BACKGROUND
The beneficial effects of cocoa polyphenols depend on the amount consumed, their bioavailability and the biological activities of the formed conjugates. The food matrix is one the factors than can affect their bioavailability, but previous studies have concluded rather contradictory results about the effect of milk on the bioavailability of polyphenols.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the possible interaction of milk on the absorption of (-)-epicatechin ((-)-Ec) from cocoa powder in healthy humans.


METHODS
21 volunteers received three interventions in a randomized crossover design with a 1-week interval (250 ml of whole milk (M-c) (control), 40 g of cocoa powder dissolved in 250 ml of whole milk (CC-M), and 40 g of cocoa powder dissolved with 250 ml of water (CC-W)). Quantification of (-)-Ec in plasma was determined by LC-MS/MS analysis prior to a solid-phase extraction procedure.


RESULTS
2 h after the intake of the two cocoa beverages, (-)-Ec-glucuronide was the only (-)-Ec metabolite detected, showing a mean (SD) plasma concentration of 330.44 nmol/l (156.1) and 273.7 nmol/l (138.42) for CC-W and CC-M, respectively (p = 0.076).


CONCLUSIONS
Cocoa powder dissolved in milk as one of the most common ways of cocoa powder consumption seems to have a negative effect on the absorption of polyphenols; however, statistical analyses have shown that milk does not impair the bioavailability of polyphenols and thus their potential beneficial effect in chronic and degenerative disease prevention.
Roura
Elena
E
Department of Nutrition and Food Science-CeRTA, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Andrés-Lacueva
Cristina
C
Estruch
Ramon
R
Mata-Bilbao
M Lourdes
ML
Izquierdo-Pulido
Maria
M
Waterhouse
Andrew L
AL
Lamuela-Raventós
Rosa M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002099:Cacao; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D005419:Flavonoids