Valerolactones and healthy Ageing: Linking Dietary factors, nutrient biomarkers, metabolic status and inflammation with cognition in older adults – The VALID Project

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Several studies identified nuts, berries, cocoa, red wine and tea as preventive toward cognitive decline. These foods are rich in flavan-3-ols (F3O), among which (epi)catechin and procyanidins. However, these compounds are poorly absorbed in the upper gastro-intestinal tract and are metabolized by colonic bacteria to phenyl-γ-valerolactones (PVL), which showed biological activities and might represent better dietary exposure biomarkers compared to (epi)catechin conjugates, as they reach higher plasma Cmax and tmax.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to identify and quantify PVL and their phase II conjugates in plasma samples of the Irish TUDA cohort, comprising 5,186 adults aged 60–102 years, affected by mild cognitive decline, and to evaluate if PVL might be potential biomarker of F3O rich food consumption. A subset of 410 subjects was asked to answer to a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to assess their habitual F3O consumption. The F3O amount was calculated based on the reported food intake and through the Phenol Explorer Database. PVL metabolites were identified and quantified in plasma of TUDA cohort subjects, by means of UHPLC-MS/MS.

Results: In the subset of 410 subjects, the total F3O intake resulted 655 mg/day, mainly monomers and proanthocyanidins from coffee, tea, fruit and chocolate products. A significant positive correlation was found among the two most representative plasma PVL and F3O intake as measured through the FFQ. Nine PVL metabolites were identified and quantified in plasma of TUDA cohort subjects, up to ∼1 μM.

Conclusions: In conclusion, PVL may represent a potential biomarker of F3O rich food intake and are constantly present in baseline plasma samples taken from the general population. Next steps will regard the association of plasma PVL with cognitive performance and newly measured inflammation markers, as well as with socio-economic and environmental factors within the TUDA cohort.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
Place of Publicationhttps://www.nmcd-journal.com/article/S0939-4753(19)30164-4/fulltext
PublisherElsevier Inc.
Pages875
Number of pages1
Volume29
Edition8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 31 Aug 2019
EventSINU2018 - Naples
Duration: 19 Nov 201921 Nov 2019
http://www.jpi-valid.com/2018/11/28/sinu2018/

Publication series

NameNutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
ISSN (Print)0939-4753

Conference

ConferenceSINU2018
Period19/11/1921/11/19
Internet address

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