Urolithins urinary excretion kinetics in Costa Rican volunteers after acute consumption of a blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos)-based drink
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| Autores: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Formato: | artículo original |
| Fecha de Publicación: | 2026 |
| Descrição: | Background: Tropical mountain blackberry, widely consumed in Costa Rica, is rich in ellagitannins (ETs) such as ellagic acid (EA), which are metabolized by the intestinal microbiota into urolithins after ingestion. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the urinary excretion kinetics of urolithins in healthy Costa Rican volunteers following the intake of a blackberry-based drink, thereby contributing to the biopharmaceutical understanding of these compounds. Methods: Fifteen healthy non-smoking male volunteers (aged 18–35 years) consumed 500 ml of water and, on a separate day, 500 ml of a blackberry-based drink (33.3%) at breakfast. Urine samples were collected at 0–6 h, 6–12 h, and 12–24 h intervals and analyzed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-Q-TOFMS). Targeted metabolomic analysis was performed to detect urolithins and related metabolites. Participants were classified according to urolithin production capacity (metabotypes A/B). All volunteers produced either one or both urolithins. Results: In the first 6 h, significant differences in metabolomic profiles were observed, although not attributable to urolithins; instead, a presumed decrease in glucuronidated hydroxyprogesterone (HPG) and tetrahydroxycortisone (THC) metabolites was identified. Between 6–12 h, urolithins A (UA) and C (UC) were identified as the main contributors to group differences. In the 12–24 h fraction, increased excretion of UA, UC, and urolithin B (UB) was observed. Quantitatively, UA was detected in 73% of participants, UC in 60%, and UB in 47%. Conclusions: The observed reduction in metabolites putatively identified as HPG and THC may indicate, though not confirm, potential hypolipidemic or hormone-related anticancer effects of ET-rich foods. The delayed appearance of UA and UC (6–12 h) could reflect slower gastric emptying and intestinal transit, while the presence of UB up to 24 h may indicate enterohepatic recirculation of UA conjugates. These findings provide new evidence on the metabolic fate of blackberry-derived ETs, highlight plausible biomarkers of consumption, and support the functional potential of berry-based foods in human health. |
| País: | Kérwá |
| Recursos: | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Kérwá |
| Idioma: | Inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:kerwa.ucr.ac.cr:10669/104161 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://hdl.handle.net/10669/104161 https://doi.org/10.1177/18785093261421217 |
| Palavra-chave: | blackberry Rubus adenotrichos kinetics urolithins hydroxyprogesterone tetrahydroxycortisone |