(+)-Catechin in human plasma after ingestion of a single serving of reconstituted red wine. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Red wine consumption may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease through the actions of its constituent flavonoids. (+)-Catechin is an abundant flavonoid in red wine. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine changes in plasma (+)-catechin concentrations after ingestion of a single, moderate serving of dealcoholized red wine reconstituted with either water (DRW) or water and alcohol (ARW). DESIGN: Nine subjects (5 men, 4 women) ingested, in random order, 120 mL DRW on one day and 120 mL ARW on another day. Both the DRW and ARW contained 35 mg (121 micromol) free (+)-catechin. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 h. Plasma was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for (+)-catechin after enzymatic release of sulfate and glucuronide conjugates. RESULTS: Calcium ions were needed to effectively hydrolyze (+)-catechin conjugates in plasma containing EDTA. Neither the ARW or DRW nor sex affected the area under the curve at 8 h, the maximum concentration (c(max)), or the time it took for plasma total (+)-catechin to reach maximum concentration (t(max)). Pooled mean (+/-SEM) values for the ARW and DRW were as follows: area under the curve, 306.1 +/- 29.5 nmol*h/L; c(max), 76.7 +/- 7.5 nmol/L; and t(max), 1.44 +/- 0.13 h. The half-life of (+)-catechin in plasma was significantly less (P = 0.038) after ingestion of the ARW (3.17 h) than after ingestion of the DRW (4.08 h). CONCLUSIONS: Increases in plasma total (+)-catechin concentrations were not significantly different after single moderate servings of either the ARW or DRW. Alcohol in the ARW hastened the elimination of (+)-catechin from the plasma compartment. (+)-Catechin elimination may represent excretion or conversion to methylated derivatives.

published proceedings

  • Am J Clin Nutr

altmetric score

  • 6

author list (cited authors)

  • Bell, J. R., Donovan, J. L., Wong, R., Waterhouse, A. L., German, J. B., Walzem, R. L., & Kasim-Karakas, S. E.

citation count

  • 199

complete list of authors

  • Bell, JR||Donovan, JL||Wong, R||Waterhouse, AL||German, JB||Walzem, RL||Kasim-Karakas, SE

publication date

  • January 2000