TY - JOUR T1 - Modulation of (–)-Epicatechin Metabolism by Coadministration with Other Polyphenols in Caco-2 Cell Model JF - Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO - Drug Metab Dispos SP - 9 LP - 16 DO - 10.1124/dmd.114.060590 VL - 43 IS - 1 AU - Belén Sanchez-Bridge AU - Antoine Lévèques AU - Hequn Li AU - Emmanuelle Bertschy AU - Amaury Patin AU - Lucas Actis-Goretta Y1 - 2015/01/01 UR - http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/43/1/9.abstract N2 - Widely consumed beverages such as red wine, tea, and cocoa-derived products are a great source of flavanols. Epidemiologic and interventional studies suggest that cocoa flavanols such as (–)-epicatechin may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The interaction of (–)-epicatechin with food components including other polyphenols could modify its absorption, metabolism, and finally its bioactivity. In the present study we investigate (–)-epicatechin absorption and metabolism when coexposed with other polyphenols in the intestinal absorptive Caco-2 cell model. Depending on the type of polyphenols coadministered, the total amount of 3′-O-methyl-epicatechin and 3′-O-sulfate-epicatechin conjugates found both in apical and basal compartments ranged from 19 to 801 nM and from 6 to 432 nM, respectively. The coincubation of (–)-epicatechin with flavanols, chlorogenic acid, and umbelliferone resulted in similar amounts of 3′-O-methyl-epicatechin effluxed into the apical compartment relative to control. Coincubation with isorhamnetin, kaempferol, diosmetin, nevadensin, chrysin, equol, genistein, and hesperitin promoted the transport of 3′-O-methyl-epicatechin toward the basolateral side and decreased the apical efflux. Quercetin and luteolin considerably inhibited the appearance of this (–)-epicatechin conjugate both in the apical and basolateral compartments. In conclusion, we could demonstrate that the efflux of (–)-epicatechin conjugates to the apical or basal compartments of Caco-2 cells is modulated by certain classes of polyphenols and their amount. Ingesting (–)-epicatechin with specific polyphenols could be a strategy to increase the bioavailability of (–)-epicatechin and to modulate its metabolic profile. ER -