Changes in urinary metabolomics after meat-containing meals with and without cruciferous or apiaceous vegetables indicate modulation of nucleotide metabolism in addition to xenobiotic metabolism: A randomized crossover study.

Jeong Hoon Pan, Jae Kyeom Kim, Sabrina P Trudo, Kangwook Lee, Brandy Lynn Le, Jung Ae Lee

Journal: Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) 2025;214():116680

PMID: 40467247

Free Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Plain Language Summary

What we eat can influence how our bodies process nutrients and harmful substances. Meat consumption has been linked to certain health risks, but combining meat with vegetables may change how the body responds. Certain vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and celery, contain natural compounds that may affect how the body breaks down and eliminates substances. This randomised control trial was conducted to investigate how eating meat with or without these vegetables affects metabolism in the body.

The results showed that adding these vegetables to meat meals changed the levels of several metabolites in urine, indicating differences in how the body processes nutrients and other compounds. In particular, there were changes related to detoxification processes (xenobiotic metabolism) and cell-related metabolic processes (nucleotide metabolism).

In conclusion, combining meat with certain vegetables can influence metabolic pathways involved in processing both nutrients and potentially harmful compounds. Healthcare professionals may use this information to encourage dietary patterns that include vegetables alongside meat to support healthier metabolic responses.

Abstract

Colon cancer is a prevalent malignancy influenced by genetics and environmental factors. Diets rich in charred and fried red meats, thus high in heterocyclic aromatic amines [e.g., 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)], are associated with increased colon cancer risk. Conversely, the consumption of fruits and vegetables offers protective effects, potentially modulating multiple carcinogenesis-related pathways. Here, we investigated the metabolomic response to apiaceous and cruciferous vegetable consumption in relation to concomitant PhIP consumption. In a randomized crossover design, 25 participants underwent four phases with four different test meals at the end of each phase. Test meals were well-done hamburger (Control), Control plus cruciferous vegetables (Cru), Control plus apiaceous vegetables (Api), and Control plus combined vegetable types (Cru + Api). Urine samples were subjected to metabolomics analysis using UPLC-MS/MS system. A total of 660 metabolites were identified. The Cru and Api meals showed distinct metabolite profiles, and the Cru + Api meal induced 133 metabolite changes compared to Control. Meals with cruciferous vegetables enriched S-methylcysteine, S-methylcysteine sulfoxide, N-acetylproline, sulforaphane-related compounds, and xenobiotic and amino acid metabolites the most. The Api meal was not as effective in altering xenobiotic metabolites. Api primarily elevated mannitol/sorbitol. To a lesser extent, both vegetable-supplemented meals induced changes in nucleotide-derived metabolites suggesting potential epigenetic modifications. The findings reinforce the influence of these vegetables on xenobiotic metabolism pathways, highlight potential epigenetic mechanisms and potential biomarkers of food intake, and provide further elucidation of their possible roles in colon cancer prevention.

Address: Department of Food and Nutrition, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.; Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA; Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea.; Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea.; Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.; Agricultural Statistics Laboratory, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116680

Patient Centred Factor

Mediators

Physical Environment

Xenobiotics

Clinical Imbalances

Detoxification and Biotransformation Gastro-intestinal

Laboratory Testing

Urine

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

Diet Hydration Nutrients/ Supplements

Jadad Score

Allocation Concealment

Yes

Psychological/Emotional Environment

Psychosocial influences

Nutrition Evidence Keywords

Xenobiotics Cruciferous vegetables Nucleotide metabolism Xenobiotic metabolism Apiaceous vegetables

Bioactive Substances

Polyphenols Phytochemicals Glucosinolates

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0963...

Miscellaneous:

https://assays.cancer.gov/CPTAC-1363

MeSH Terms: Humans, Cross-Over Studies, Vegetables, Male, Metabolomics, Female, Middle Aged, Nucleotides, Adult, Xenobiotics, Diet, Biomarkers, Meals, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Imidazoles, Aged