title: Phenolic metabolites of anthocyanins following a dietary intervention study in post-menopausal women.
abstract: METHODS
  Numerous studies feeding anthocyanin-rich foods report limited bioavailability of the parent anthocyanins. The present study explores the identity and concentration of the phenolic metabolites of anthocyanins in humans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anthocyanin metabolites were quantified in samples collected from a previously conducted 12-wk elderberry intervention study in healthy post-menopausal women. Individual 1-, 2- and 3-h post-bolus urine samples and pooled plasma samples following acute (single bolus) and chronic (12-wk supplementation) anthocyanin consumption (500 mg/day) were analysed using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Twenty-eight anthocyanin metabolites were identified in urine and 21 in plasma (including sulfates of vanillic, protocatechuic and benzoic acid). Phenolic metabolites reached peak concentrations of 1237 nM in plasma, while anthocyanin conjugates only reached concentrations of 34 nM. Similarly, in urine, phenolic metabolites were detected at concentrations of 33,185 ± 2549 nM/mM creatinine, while anthocyanin conjugates reached concentrations of 548 ± 219 nM/mM creatinine. There was no evidence that chronic exposure had any impact on either the profile or quantity of metabolites recovered relative to acute exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An extensive range of phenolic metabolites of anthocyanin was identified following elderberry consumption in humans, including 11 novel metabolites, which were identified at much higher concentrations than their parent compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Ferrars
authors.forename: Aedín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Colin D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010636:Phenols / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D017698:Postmenopause; D027923:Sambucus / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anthocyanins; Elderberries; Glucuronide; Phenolic acids; Sulfate