Impact of Proteins on the Uptake, Distribution, and Excretion of Phenolics in the Human Body

Abstract

Polyphenols, a complex group of secondary plant metabolites, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, have been studied in depth for their health-related benefits. The activity of polyphenols may, however, be hampered when consumed together with protein-rich food products, due to the interaction between polyphenols and proteins. To that end we have tested the bioavailability of representatives of a range of polyphenol classes when consumed for five days in different beverage matrices. In a placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over study, 35 healthy males received either six placebo gelatine capsules consumed with 200 mL of water, six capsules with 800 mg polyphenols derived from red wine and grape extracts, or the same dose of polyphenols incorporated into 200 mL of either pasteurized dairy drink, soy drink (both containing 3.4% proteins) or fruit-flavoured protein-free drink . At the end of the intervention urine and blood was collected and analysed for a broad range of phenolic compounds using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography–Multiple Reaction Monitoring–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MRM-MS), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques. The plasma and urine concentrations of the polyphenols identified increased with all formats, including the protein-rich beverages. Compared to capsule ingestion, consumption of polyphenol-rich beverages containing either dairy, soy or no proteins had minor to no effect on the bioavailability and excretion of phenolic compounds in plasma (118% ± 9%) and urine (98% ± 2%). We conclude that intake of polyphenols incorporated in protein-rich drinks does not have a major impact on the bioavailability of a range of different polyphenols and phenolic metabolites.

Acute effects of flavonoid-rich blueberry on cognitive and vascular function in healthy older adults

“…One possible explanation is that with increasing age, the number of beneficial microorganisms in the colon decrease [42], which is likely to include those involved in flavonoid metabolism, and could potentially explain any delay in absorption in the current study considering the population tested. Furthermore, the intervention powders were suspended in milk and whilst some research such as that of Draijer et al [43] suggests that dairy proteins do not affect the bioavailability of polyphenols, there is also evidence to the contrary, with a study by Xiao et al [44] reporting that consuming milk with anthocyanins can affect their absorption. Overall, this suggests that the 5 hour post drink timepoint in the current study could have been too early to capture the maximum cognitive benefit that may otherwise have been evident following the acute anthocyanin-rich blueberry intervention.…”

The Role of Dietary Phenolic Compounds in Protein Digestion and Processing Technologies to Improve Their Antinutritive Properties

“…The most recent investigations on the bioavailability of anthocyanins and flavanones suggest that they could be more bioavailable than previously thought (Kay and others ). Data also show that protein‐rich diets do not influence the uptake, distribution, and excretion of phenols (Draijer and others ).…”

Health Effects of Resveratrol: Results from Human Intervention Trials

“…Furthermore, a study with 36 healthy males ingesting capsules containing 800 mg polyphenols with protein-rich dairy, soy, fruit-flavored drinks, or water, showed that the intake of polyphenols incorporated in protein-rich drinks did not change significantly the bioavailability of polyphenols or their metabolites [37].…”