Alkylresorcinol metabolites in urine correlate with the intake of whole grains and cereal fibre in free-living Swedish adults

Br J Nutr. 2013 Jan 14;109(1):129-36. doi: 10.1017/S0007114512000621. Epub 2012 Apr 3.

Abstract

Alkylresorcinols (AR) have been established as short/medium-term biomarkers for whole grain (WG) wheat and rye intake; and AR metabolites, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid, have been suggested as complementary biomarkers to AR. The present study examined the medium-term reproducibility and relative validity of urinary AR metabolites as biomarkers for WG and cereal fibre intake. A total of sixty-six free-living Swedes completed 3 d weighed food records and provided single 24 h urine collections and morning urine spot samples on two occasions, 2-3 months apart. The medium-term reproducibility of urinary AR metabolites was moderate when assessed in 24 h collections and lower in creatinine (CR)-adjusted morning urine. Mean AR metabolite 24 h excretions correlated well with total WG (r(s) 0·31-0·52, P < 0·05) and cereal fibre (r(s) 0·46-0·58, P < 0·001) intake on both occasions. As expected, correlations with WG (r(s) 0·28-0·38, P < 0·05) and cereal fibre (r(s) 0·35-0·42, P < 0·01) were weaker for mean CR-adjusted AR metabolite concentrations in spot samples of morning urine, although the adjusted concentrations correlated well with 24 h urinary excretion (r(s) 0·69-0·73, P < 0·001). Adjustment for intra-individual variations substantially improved the correlations between intake and excretion. These findings suggest that urinary AR metabolites can successfully reflect the medium-term intake of WG and cereal fibre when adjusted for intra-individual variation in this population, where rye was the major contributor to high WG intake. The performance of urinary AR metabolites as medium-term biomarkers appears to be comparable to that of fasting plasma AR concentration in this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Alkylation
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Diet Records
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism*
  • Edible Grain / chemistry
  • Edible Grain / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Food Handling
  • Humans
  • Hydroxybenzoates / metabolism
  • Hydroxybenzoates / urine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenols / metabolism
  • Phenols / urine
  • Phenylpropionates
  • Propionates / metabolism
  • Propionates / urine
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Resorcinols / metabolism
  • Resorcinols / urine*
  • Secale / chemistry
  • Sweden
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • 3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-propanoic acid
  • Biomarkers
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Hydroxybenzoates
  • Phenols
  • Phenylpropionates
  • Propionates
  • Resorcinols
  • Creatinine