Metabolomic approach: a comparative study of orange juices variety 'Cara Cara' and variety 'Bahia' intake in healthy humans

Abstract

In the first step, the identification and quantification of phenolic and carotenoid compounds in both varieties of pasteurized orange juice has been performed. In the second step, a total of 21 healthy volunteers will be recruited in a randomized cross-over clinical trial with one week intervention period to assess the impact of orange juices in human metabolism. The study protocol (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT02685124) was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of University of São Paulo (CEP 1097907). The Blood, urine and feces samples will be collected at various experimental times to identify biomarkers of intake and absorption. Glucose, insulin, lipoproteins, hormones, antioxidant enzymes and miRNAs (micro RNAs) will be analyzed in blood samples. An untargeted metabolomics approach using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS will be applied to characterize the metabolic profile in urine and feces samples. Furthermore, the relationship between the host metabolic profile and intestinal microbiota will be explored. In this manner, it would identify biomarkers of orange juice intake as well as discover new metabolites that could be useful to better understand the interaction between foods and humans and then suggest technological processes and nutritional benefits. (AU)