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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #219307
Title: Identification of Anthocyanins in the Liver, Eye, and Brain of Blueberry-fed Pigs

Author
item KALT, WILHELMINA - AAFC, CANADA
item Blumberg, Jeffrey
item O'LEARY, JENNIFER - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item GRAF, BRIGITTE - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item MCDONALD, JANE - AAFC, CANADA
item VINQVIST-TYMCHUK, MELINDA - AAFC, CANADA
item FILLMORE, SHERRY - AAFC, CANADA
item Milbury, Paul

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2007
Publication Date: 1/23/2008
Citation: Milbury, P., Blumberg, J., O'Leary, J.M., Graf, B.A., Mcdonald, J.E., Vinqvist-Tymchuk, M.R., Fillmore, S.A., Kalt, W. 2008. Identification of Anthocyanins in the Liver, Eye, and Brain of Blueberry-fed Pigs. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 56(3):705-712.

Interpretive Summary: Dietary intervention with berry flavonoids known as anthocyanins may confer benefits in brain function, including vision. Research to date indicates that animals have only a limited capacity to absorb anthocyanins, compared to other types of flavonoids. Pigs,which are a suitable model for human digestive absorption, were used to examine the deposition of anthocyanins in tissues including the liver, eye and brain tissue. Pigs were supplemented with 0, 1, 2, or 4% weight/weight blueberries in their food for 4 weeks. Prior to euthanasia, pigs were fasted 18-21 h. While no anthocyanins were detected in plasma or urine of the fasted animals, intact anthocyanins were detected in all tissues where they were sought. Analysis by liquid chromatography separation and dual mass spectroscopy detection permitted determination of the relative concentration of 11 intact anthocyanins in the liver, eye, cortex, and cerebellum. The results suggest that anthocyanins can accumulate in tissues, including tissues beyond the blood brain barrier.

Technical Abstract: Dietary intervention with anthocyanins may confer benefits in brain function, including vision. Research to date indicates that animals have only a limited capacity to absorb anthocyanins, compared to other types of flavonoids. Pigs, which are a suitable model for human digestive absorption, were used to examine the deposition of anthocyanins in tissues including the liver, eye and brain tissue. Pigs were fed diets supplemented with 0,1, 2, or 4% w/w blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L., ‘Jersey’) for 4 weeks. Prior to euthanasia, pigs were fasted 18-21 h. While no anthocyanins were detected in plasma or urine of the fasted animals, intact anthocyanins were detected in all tissues where they were sought. LC-MS/MS results are presented for the relative concentration of 11 intact anthocyanins in the liver, eye, cortex, and cerebellum. The results suggest that anthocyanins can accumulate in tissues, including tissues beyond the blood brain barrier.