Increase of 4-Hydroxybenzoic, a Bioactive Phenolic Compound, after an Organic Intervention Diet
Sara Hurtado-Barroso,
Paola Quifer-Rada,
María Marhuenda-Muñoz,
Jose Fernando Rinaldi de Alvarenga,
Anna Tresserra-Rimbau,
Rosa M. Lamuela-Raventós
Affiliations
Sara Hurtado-Barroso
Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Paola Quifer-Rada
Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, CIBER of Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
María Marhuenda-Muñoz
Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Jose Fernando Rinaldi de Alvarenga
Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Anna Tresserra-Rimbau
Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Rosa M. Lamuela-Raventós
Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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.
