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. 2019 Aug 24;8(9):340.
doi: 10.3390/antiox8090340.

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

Affiliations

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

Sara Hurtado-Barroso et al. Antioxidants (Basel). .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: 4-HBA; carotenes; crossover study; healthy diet; humans; intervention; metals; microbiota metabolites; phenolic acid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dra. R.M.L.-R. reports receiving lecture fees from Cerveceros de España and receiving lecture fees and travel support from Adventia. Moreover, weekly vouchers and other organic products have been provided by Ecoveritas S.A. and sponsors previously named. Nevertheless, these foundations and sponsors were not involved in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, the writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study design. OD: Organic diet; CD: Conventional diet; T0: Initial time point (before interventions); Tf: Final time point (after interventions).

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