In vivo study of the bioavailability and metabolic profile of (poly)phenols after sous-vide artichoke consumption.

Artichokes are a rich source of (poly)phenols, mainly caffeoylquinic acids, but little is known about their bioavailability from this source. This study investigated the absorption, metabolism and excretion of (poly)phenols after sous-vide artichoke consumption (5776 µmol of (poly)phenols) by healthy volunteers. Seventy-six (poly)phenol metabolites were identified by UHPLC-MS/MS using authentic standards, including acyl-quinic acids plus C6-C3, C6-C1, C6-C2, C6-C1-N, C6-C0 metabolites, and their phase-II conjugates. The major metabolites were 3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxycinnamic acid, 3'-methoxycinnamic acid-4'-sulfate, and 4'-hydroxycinnamic acid-3'-sulfate, which appeared early in plasma (Tmax < 4 h); plus 3-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid, 3-(4'-methoxyphenyl)propanoic acid-3'-glucuronide, 3-(3'-hydroxyphenyl) propanoic acid and hippuric acids, which appeared later (Tmax > 6 h). The 24 h urinary recovery averaged 8.9% (molar basis) of the (poly)phenols consumed. Hepatic beta-oxidation of 3',4'-dihydroxycinnamic acid and methylated conjugates occurred, but was limited (<0.04%). 3'-Methylation exceeded 4'-methylation and interindividual variability was high, especially for gut microbial metabolites (up to 168-fold).