Plasma kinetics in man of epicatechin from black chocolate.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the plasma kinetics in man of epicatechin from black chocolate.

DESIGN

An intervention study with 8 volunteers. Each served as his own control. Theobromine was used as control marker of the chocolate intake.

SETTING

Metabolic Unit, Nestle Research Center, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, Switzerland.

SUBJECTS

Eight healthy male volunteers (4 smokers and 4 non-smokers) were enrolled in this study. They abstained from foods rich in polyphenols (coffee, tea, wine, fruit juice, cocoa products) for 24 h prior to the test until its completion.

INTERVENTION

Volunteers ate 40 g and 80 g of black chocolate (Nestle Noir) together with bread with a one-week interval. Blood samples were drawn every hour during the first 4h and a last one at 8 h after chocolate consumption. Plasma samples were analysed for epicatechin and theobromine content by HPLC.

RESULTS

Plasma concentrations of epicatechin and theobromine increased markedly after chocolate consumption (P = 0.002 and P= 0.001, respectively), reaching a maximum between 2 and 3 h. The maximal concentration and area under the curve of plasma kinetics of both substrates correlated very well with the dose of chocolate.

CONCLUSIONS

Epicatechin is absorbed from chocolate and is rapidly eliminated from plasma. Attainable plasma values are 0.7 micromol/l from 80g of black chocolate.