title: Selective bio-availability of phenolic acids from Scottish strawberries.
abstract: Scottish strawberries were found to be a rich source of phenolic acids, namely benzoic (1287.95 +/- 279.98 mg/kg) and cinnamic (1159.40 +/- 233.96 mg/kg) acids, both free and attached to other plant components. Studies suggest a chemopreventive role for such compounds in several major clinical conditions, but the anticipated benefits are likely to be affected by their bio-availability and metabolic fate. In this pilot study, strawberries (750 g) was consumed by four healthy human volunteers (32 +/- 6 years). Only the benzoic acids were detected in the plasma. Of these, the major free (gentisic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acid) and conjugated (syringic acid) benzoic acids were 26-27% recovered in the urine within 5 h. Cinnamic acids were completely undetected in plasma and only trace amounts were found in the urine. Since, the cinnamic acids escaped absorption early in the gastrointestinal tract, their release and/or metabolism is dependent on the host colonic microbiota. Results indicate that there is a high degree of selective absorption of strawberry phenolic acids into the systemic circulation. If selective absorption of phenolic acids is observed with consumption of other plant-based foods, this is likely to have implications for the bioactive role of these compounds in chronic disease prevention.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Nutrition Group, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Wendy R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scobbie
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labat
authors.forename: Garry G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Duthie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001565:Benzoates / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D001682:Biological Availability; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D031985:Fragaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D002934:Cinnamates