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Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion of (-)-[2-14C]Epicatechin in Humans

A Single-Center, Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion of (-)-[2-14C]Epicatechin Following Oral Intake

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01969994
Enrollment
12
Registered
2013-10-25
Start date
2009-12-31
Completion date
2009-12-31
Last updated
2013-10-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

ADME

Keywords

Epicatechin, Flavanols, Procyanidins, Polyphenols, Phytonutrients, AMDE, Antioxidants

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the absorption, metabolism and excretion of (-)-epicatechin using the radiolabeled tracer (-)-\[2-14C\]epicatechin in healthy male volunteers observing a flavanol-/procyanidin-controlled background diet.

Detailed description

Flavanols and their oligomeric derivatives, the procyanidins, are plant-derived compounds commonly present in the human diet. Accumulating data demonstrate a causal role for dietary flavanols in mediating the cardiovascular benefits associated with the consumption of flavanol-/procyanidin-containing foods. In this context, there exists a great interest in understanding the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of flavanols in humans. While significant advances in understanding the ADME of flavanols were made, the data obtained thus far remain fairly preliminary and with significant shortfalls and seeming contradictions. Aimed at addressing the challenges and gaps of previous investigations, this study will investigate the ADME of (-)-epicatechin, one of the most abundant dietary flavanols, following the intake of radiolabeled (-)-\[2-14C\]epicatechin by healthy humans observing a flavanol-/procyanidin-controlled background diet.

Interventions

OTHERControlled dietary background

Controlled dietary flavanol-/procyanidin- background, consisting of daily intake for 14 days (day -17 to -4) of a commercially available flavanol-/procyanidin-containing cocoa-based drink (250 mg cocoa flavanols; 40 mg of (-)-epicatechin) followed by a 4-day period (day -4 to 0) of a low-flavanol diet.

OTHER(-)-[2-14C]epicatechin intake

Single oral intake of an aqueous solution of a mixture of non-radiolabeled (-)-epicatechin and a single-carbon-14 radiolabeled (-)-\[2-14C\]epicatechin. The target amount of EC delivered with test drink will be 60 mg, 58.5 mg of which consist of non-radiolabled EC and 1.54 mg (300 µCi) consist of (-)-\[2-14C\]epicatechin.

Sponsors

Covance
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Mars, Inc.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
The Institutes for Pharmaceutical Discovery, LLC
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. 1. males, in good health, between 18 and 50 years of age and between 60 and 100 kg; 2. body mass index (BMI) between 19 and 30 kg/m2. 3. clinical laboratory evaluations (including clinical chemistry \[fasted at least 10 hours\], hematology, and urinalysis) within the reference range for the testing laboratory, unless deemed not clinically significant by the Investigator; 4. negative hepatitis panel (including hepatitis B surface antigen \[HbsAg\] and hepatitis C virus antibody \[anti-HCV\]) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody screens; 5. a minimum of 1 bowel movement per day.

Exclusion criteria

1. history or clinical manifestations of significant metabolic, hematological, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurologic, hepatic, renal, urological, or psychiatric disorders; 2. allergies to peanuts, nuts, or other foods; 3. lactose intolerance; 4. history of stomach or intestinal surgery, except that appendectomy or hernia were allowed; 5. history of alcoholism or drug addiction within 1 year prior to study entry (ie, at Screening); 6. use of any tobacco products (including cigarette, pipe, cigar, chewing, nicotine patch, or nicotine gum) within 6 months prior to study entry; 7. use of any agents (excluding those provided as part of this study procedure) affecting the liver enzymes; 8. use of aspirin-containing drugs and any other over-the-counter, non-prescription preparations (including vitamins, minerals, and phytotherapeutic/herbal/plant-derived preparations) during the study, unless deemed acceptable by the Investigator; 9. use of any alcohol-containing or caffeine-containing products/medications within 72 hours prior to (-)-\[2-14C\]epicatechin ingestion; 10. regular consumption of more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day; 11. vegans, vegetarians and/or anyone who consumed less than 1 to 2 servings of fruits and or vegetables per day; 12. participation in more than one other radiolabeled investigational study drug trial within 12 months prior to study entry or exposure to significant radiation within 12 months prior to study entry;

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Change in levels of (-)-[2-14C]epicatechin-derived radioactivity in blood, plasma, urine, and feces;0 (prior to the ingestion of (-)-[2-14C]epicatechin), 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 48 hours postdose, and at every subsequent 24 hour timepoint up to 240 h or until volunteers meet discharge criteria

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Composite of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of total (-)-[2-14C]epicatechin-derived radioactivity levels in plasma, urine and feces.0 (prior to the ingestion of (-)-[2-14C]epicatechin) up to 240 h or untill volunteers meet discharge criteriaPK parameters: Cmax: maximum observed concentration in plasma; tmax: time to maximum concentration in plasma; AUC0-t: area under the plasma radioactivity-time curve from hour 0 to the last measurable concentration in plasma; AUC0-∞: area under the plasma concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity; λZ: apparent terminal elimination rate constant in plasma; t1/2: apparent terminal elimination half-life in plasma; CL/F: systemic clearance; Vd/F: apparent volume of distribution; CLR: renal clearance; Aeu(0-t): cumulative amount excreted in the urine over each sampling interval and the total interval examined; Aef(0-t): Cumulative amount excreted in the feces over each sampling interval and the total interval examined.
Composite of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of individual (-)-[2-14C]epicatechin metabolites in plasma and urine0 (prior to the ingestion of (-)-[2-14C]epicatechin) up to 240 h or untill volunteers meet discharge criteriaPK parameters of each (-)-epicatechin metabolite: Cmax: maximum observed concentration in plasma; tmax: time to maximum concentration in plasma; AUC0-t: area under the plasma concentration-time curve from hour 0 to the last measurable concentration in plasma; AUC0-∞: area under the plasma concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity; λZ: apparent terminal elimination rate constant in plasma; t1/2: apparent terminal elimination half-life in plasma; CL/F: systemic clearance; Vd/F apparent volume of distribution; CLR: renal clearance; Aeu(0-t): cumulative amount excreted in the urine over each sampling interval and the total interval examined.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026