Metabolic characteristics of catechin (monomeric flavan-3-ols), B-type linkage flavan-3-ols and A-type linkage flavan-3-ols revealed by un-targeted and targeted metabolomics
- Author(s)
- Ruonan Liu, Wanbing Chen, Qun Lu, Wolfram Weckwerth, Jun Dong, Yiqing Hu, Rui Liu
- Abstract
Flavan-3-ols are one of the most abundant dietary polyphenols, and their absorption and metabolism are vital to their healthy effect, so it is urgent to understand the metabolic characteristics of different configurations and degree of polymerizations (DPs). In this study our aim was to investigate urinary and feces excretion of flavan-3-ols to reveal their metabolism. Catechin (monomer), epicatechin-(4β-8)-catechin (B-type-dimer), epicatechin -(2β-O-7,4β-8)-catechin (A-type-dimer), and epicatechin-(4β-6)-epicatechin-(2β-O-7,4β-8)-catechin (A-type-trimer) were administered to mice. By using untargeted and targeted metabolomics it was observed that flavan-3-ols with similar DP but different linkage types were similar in metabolite recovery in urines and feces, however their constituents of metabolites were different. Phenyl-γ-valerolactones were biomarkers of catechin and B-type linkage flavan-3-ols, rather than of A-type linkage flavan-3-ols. The metabolites of A-type-dimer and A-type-trimer in urine were mainly constituted of phenolic acids. Procyanidin A1 with open C-ring was derived from A-type flavan-3-ols. In summary, phenyl-γ-valerolactones are good biomarkers for catechin and B-type linkage flavan-3-ols but not A-type linkage flavan-3-ols.
- Organisation(s)
- Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
- External organisation(s)
- Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan Engineering Research Center of Bee Products on Quality and Safety Control, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Science, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
- Journal
- Food Research International
- Volume
- 217
- ISSN
- 0963-9969
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116357
- Publication date
- 10-2025
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 303009 Nutritional sciences
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Food Science
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/1a7bea64-f5cd-4d03-bd96-3a52a142764c