Effects of a long-term dietary supplementation with anthocyanins and xanthophylls on serum metabolomic profile and macular pigment optical density in postmenopausal women

Abstract

[Objective]: Assessment of the effect of the xanthophylls and anthocyanins dietary supplementation on lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) status [serum concentrations and macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and its relation with the serum metabolomics profile in postmenopausal women. [Subjects and methods]: 75 women were randomized into a parallel study of 8 months duration. Inclusion criteria: age (50-70 years), amenorrhea (> 2y), BMI (25-33 kg/m2). Participants were randomized in three groups: Group A) anthocyanins (60 mg/day); Group X) xanthophylls (6 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin/d); Group A+X) anthocyanines (60 mg/d) + xanthophylls (6 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin/d). Blood samples were collected at the start (time 0), 4 and 8 months and lipid profile (cholesterol and TG). Metabolomics was performed using HPLC-Q-TOF LCMS (G6530A). MassHunter Profinder software (B.06.00) was used for recursive molecular feature extraction and Mass Profiler Professional Software (B.13.01) for Multivariate statistical analysis. [Results]: Supplementation with L and Z resulted in 2 - 2.8 fold and 1.4 - 1.6-fold increases in the serum levels of L and Z, respectively. These increments occurred in groups X and A+X, being slightly higher but not statisticaly significant in group X. The levels of L and Z concentrations, and L+Z/chol+TG in serum reached at 4 months were maintained throughout the intervention period (8 months) in the (X) and (A+X) groups. There were no variations in the L and Z serum levels in the group (A) and neither were in the concentrations of cholesterol, HDL-, LDL- and TG in any of the three groups. Serum metabolome profile was changed after anthocyanin intake for 8 months. After correction for multiple comparisons, seven metabolites were statistically significantly altered. MPOD value was not modified in any of the groups at the end of the study. Only an increase was observed in the MPOD after 4 months in the group X. [Conclusions]: Supplementation of L and Z at dietary levels provokes an increase in their concentrations in serum that were not modified by the simultaneous supplementation of anthocyanins. The L and Z supplied was insufficient to get an increase in the MPOD during the period studied. A change in serum metabolome of the A group participants before and after 8 months anthocyanin supplementation was observed.