New research at Washington State University supported by The
Organic Center has led to the first-ever assessment of the bioavailability
of the chiral flavonoids hesperetin, naringenin, and eriodictyol --
important antioxidants in citrus fruits and juices.
Dr. Neal Davies leads the research team at WSU. Using sensitive
techniques, they measured the levels of three flavonoids and their
enantiomers in conventional and organic fruit and tomato juices, and for
the first time ever, quantified both the glycoside (molecule with attached
sugars) and agylcone (molecule stripped of sugars) forms of the
enantiomers of these three flavonoids.
Organic lemonade had ten-times the total eriocitrin (glycoside form of
eriodictyol) compared to conventional lemonade, and the agylcone form had
over three-times the level in conventional juice. Organic lime juice also
had three-times the level of eriocitrin, compared to conventional lime
juice.
Organic apple juice had over three times the total hesperidin
(glycoside), and almost twice the hesperetin (agylcone form). Organic
grapefruit juice had about 20% less total hesperidin (glycoside), but 77%
more hesperetin (agylcone).
The importance of measuring both the glycoside and agylcone form of
flavonoids (and other nutrients) is clear in the grapefruit juice
findings. Based on the data for just the glycoside form of hesperidin, it
would appear that conventional grapefruit juice contains more of this
flavonoid than the organic juice that was tested. But by focusing on the
more bioavailable agylcone form, the opposite conclusion would be reached.
Source: J.A. Yanez et al., "Pharmacokinetics of Selceted Chiral
Flavonoids: Hesperetin, Naringenin, and Eriodictyol in Rats and their
Content in Fruit Juices," Biopharmaceutics & Drug Disposition, Vol.
29, pp. 63-82, September 2007
via: Organic Federation of Australia
'The Peak Body for the Australian Organic Sector'
www.ofa.org.au
