Increase of 4-Hydroxybenzoic, a Bioactive Phenolic Compound, after an Organic Intervention Diet

• Published in: Antioxidants Vol. 8; no. 9; pp. 340 - 351
• Main Authors: Hurtado-Barroso, Sara, Quifer-Rada, Paola, Marhuenda-Muñoz, María, Rinaldi de Alvarenga, Jose Fernando, Tresserra-Rimbau, Anna, Lamuela-Raventós, Rosa M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24.08.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: 4-HBA; 4-hydroxybenzoic acid; Aliments naturals; bioactive properties; Biological activity; carotenes; Carotenoides; Carotenoids; Chromatography; cross-over studies; crossover study; Diet; Dieta; excretion; Fenols; Food science; foods; healthy diet; humans; Intervention; Laboratories; metabolites; metals; Microbiota; microbiota metabolites; Natural & organic foods; Natural foods; Nutrició; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Organic acids; p-Hydroxybenzoic acid; Pesticides; phenolic acid; Phenols; phytochemicals; Plasma; Polyphenols; Questionnaires; Urine; Àcids orgànics; St Louis Missouri; United States > US; Spain; crossover study; healthy diet; phenolic acid; metals; carotenes; 4-HBA; intervention; humans; microbiota metabolites
• ISSN: 2076-3921; 2076-3921
• DOI: 10.3390/antiox8090340

Consumption of organic products is increasing yearly due to perceived health-promoting qualities. Several studies have shown higher amounts of phytochemicals such as polyphenols and carotenoids in foods produced by this type of agriculture than in conventional foods, but whether this increase has an impact on humans still needs to be assessed. A randomized, controlled and crossover study was carried out in nineteen healthy subjects aged 18–40 years, who all followed an organic and conventional healthy diet, both for a 4-week period. Analysis of biological samples revealed a significant increase on the excretion of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), a phenolic metabolite with biological activity, after the organic intervention. However, no changes were observed in the other variables analyzed.