Catechin in the Mediterranean diet: vegetable, fruit or wine?

The aim of this study was to determine which type of diet contributes most to plasma concentration of (+)-catechin, a naturally occurring antioxidant flavonoid. Consecutive subjects (n = 180) were screened. A blood sample was collected after a fasting period and (+)-catechin measurement in plasma wa s performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using f luorescence detection. Dietary consumption of the last evening meal was ass essed by a dietary recall method. Taking fruit, vegetable and wine consumpt ion into account, four types of diet were identified. After adjustment for confounding factors, concentration of (+)-catechin in plasma was three-fold higher in diet with fruit and vegetable but without wine (449.5 mug/l), an d four-fold higher ill diet with wine but without vegetable and fruit (598. 5 mug/l) in comparison to diet without fruit, vegetable and wine (131.6 mug /l). When the consumption of vegetable, fruit and wine was combined, the co ncentration was the highest (637.1 mug/l) (P < 0.001). Vegetable, fruit and wine were the major determinants of plasma (+)-catechin concentration (P < 0.001). This study demonstrates that the highest plasma concentration of()-catechin was observed in subjects consuming fruit, vegetable and wine, an d its antioxidant and antiaggregant activity could partly explain the relat ive protection against coronary heart disease (CHD). (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.