LC-MS/MS quantification of sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol metabolites in human plasma and urine after dietary intake of selenium-fortified broccoli

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Aug 10;59(15):8047-57. doi: 10.1021/jf201501x. Epub 2011 Jul 6.

Abstract

This study aimed at developing a sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of sulforaphane (SFN) and indole-3-carbinol metabolites in plasma and urine after dietary intake of regular and selenium-fertilized broccoli using stable isotope dilution analysis. In a three-armed, placebo-controlled, randomized human intervention study with 76 healthy volunteers, 200 g of regular (485 μg of total glucosinolates and <0.01 μg of selenium per gram fresh weight) or selenium-fertilized broccoli (589 μg of total glucosinolates and 0.25 μg of selenium per gram fresh weight) was administered daily for 4 weeks. Glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin metabolites quantified in plasma and urine were SFN-glutathione, SFN-cysteine, SFN-cysteinylglycine, SFN-acetylcysteine, and indole-3-carboxaldehyde, indole-3-carboxylic acid, and ascorbigen, respectively. Dietary intake of selenium-fertilized broccoli increased serum selenium concentration analyzed by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy by up to 25% (p < 0.001), but affected neither glucosinolate concentrations in broccoli nor their metabolite concentrations in plasma and urine compared to regular broccoli.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brassica / chemistry*
  • Brassica / metabolism
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Diet*
  • Female
  • Fertilizers / analysis
  • Glucosinolates / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Indoles / analysis*
  • Indoles / blood
  • Indoles / metabolism
  • Indoles / urine
  • Isothiocyanates
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Selenium / analysis
  • Selenium / metabolism*
  • Sulfoxides
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Thiocyanates / analysis*
  • Thiocyanates / blood
  • Thiocyanates / urine

Substances

  • Fertilizers
  • Glucosinolates
  • Indoles
  • Isothiocyanates
  • Sulfoxides
  • Thiocyanates
  • indole-3-carbinol
  • glucobrassicin
  • sulforaphane
  • Selenium