A high-fat high-sucrose diet affects the long-term metabolic fate of grape proanthocyanidins in rats

[Purpose]: Polyphenol metabolites are key mediators of the biological activities of polyphenols. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of a high-fat high-sucrose (HFHS) diet on the metabolism of proanthocyanidins from grape seed extract (GSE). [Methods]: Adult female Wistar–Kyoto rats were fed a standard (STD) or HFHS diet supplemented or not with GSE for 16 weeks. PA metabolites were determined by targeted HPLC–MS/MS analysis. [Results]: A lower concentration of total microbial-derived PA metabolites was present in urine and the aqueous fraction of faeces in the HFHS + GSE group than in the STD + GSE group. In contrast, a tendency towards the formation of conjugated (epi)catechin metabolites in the HFHS + GSE group was observed. [Conclusions]: These results show that a HFHS diet significantly modifies PA metabolism, probably via: (1) a shift in microbial communities not counteracted by the polyphenols themselves; and (2) an up-regulation of hepatic enzymes.
This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grants: AGL2009-12374-C03-01, -02 and -03; and AGL2013-49079-C2-1, 2 and -R, and through a doctoral fellowship to L.M.). The Panamanian Government (SENACYT/IFARHU) awarded a graduate fellowship to E.M.-T. The ISCIII is acknowledged for a “Sara Borrell” postdoctoral contract to J.P.-J. (CD09/00068).