Bioavailability of ferulic acid

There is a wealth of evidence for the powerful antioxidant properties in vi tro of flavonoid components of the diet. However, few studies have been und ertaken concerning the hydroxycinnamates, major constituents of fruit, some vegetables, beverages, and grains, particularly the extent to which they a re absorbed in vivo from the diet. The study described here has investigate d the bioavailability of ferulic acid in humans, from tomato consumption, t hrough the monitoring of the pharmacokinetics of excretion in relation to i ntake. The results show that the peak time for maximal urinary excretion is approximately 7 h and the recovery of ferulic acid in the urine, on the ba sis of total free ferulic acid and feruloyl glucuronide excreted, is 11-25% of that ingested. (C) 1998 Academic Press.