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Reproducibility and dietary correlates of plasma polyphenols in the JPHC-NEXT Protocol Area study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 78, pages 34–42 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

In recent years, an increasing number of epidemiological studies have suggested a role of polyphenols in the prevention of chronic diseases. Prospective cohort studies have typically measured polyphenol concentrations in a single blood sample and the reproducibility of plasma polyphenol measurements is largely unknown.

Objective

We evaluated the reproducibility of 35 plasma polyphenols collected at an interval of 1-year. We also examined correlations of these polyphenols with food group intakes calculated from weighed food records (WFR) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Methods

The study included 227 middle-aged participants from the JPHC-NEXT Protocol Area in Japan. We measured 35 polyphenols in plasma collected at two points 1-year apart. Food group intakes were calculated from 12-day WFR and FFQ. For the reproducibility analysis, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 35 polyphenol concentrations were examined between the two points. Pearson’s partial correlations was used to assess the correlation between polyphenols and food groups.

Results

Moderate- to high ICCs were observed for tea-originated polyphenols such as gallic acid, quercetin, epigallocatechin, and kaempferol - and coffee-derived polyphenols, such as caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. For the dietary analyses, moderate correlations were observed for non-alcoholic beverages intake and epigallocatechin, epicatechin, catechin, and gallic acid. For green tea, higher correlations were observed with these polyphenols.

Conclusion

Plasma concentrations of tea and coffee-related polyphenols, except for catechin, had good reproducibility over a 1-year period. The correlations between intake of non-alcoholic beverages, particularly green tea, and tea polyphenols, indicated moderate- to high correlations.

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Fig. 1: Study design of the JPHC-NEXT Protocol Area.
Fig. 2: Pearson correlation heatmap between polyphenols (N = 221).

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Data availability

For information on how to submit an application to gain access to Japan Public Health Center-based data/or biospecimens, please follow the instructions at https://epi.ncc.go.jp/en/jphc/805/8155.html.

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Acknowledgements

JPHC members (as of November 2021) are listed at the following site: https://epi.ncc.go.jp/en/jphc/781/8510.html. The study was supported by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International Regular Grant Programme 2017/18 (grant number: IIG_2018_1698), National Cancer Research and Development Fund [23-A-31 (Toku) and 26-A-2] (since 2010), and Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (from 1989 to 2010).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Metabolism Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France

    Nagisa Mori, Neil Murphy, David Achaintre, Augustin Scalbert & Marc J. Gunter

  2. Division of Cohort Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan

    Nagisa Mori, Norie Sawada & Shoichiro Tsugane

  3. Section of Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Nutritional Epidemiology and Shokuiku, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan

    Nagisa Mori

  4. School of Plant Science and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    David Achaintre

  5. Division of Epidemiology, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan

    Taiki Yamaji & Motoki Iwasaki

  6. Graduate School of Environmental Health, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan

    Junko Ishihara

  7. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women’s University Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Nara, Japan

    Ribeka Takachi

  8. Division of Preventive Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan

    Kazutoshi Nakamura

  9. Department of Health Promotion Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan

    Junta Tanaka

  10. Institute of Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroyasu Iso

  11. Division of Prevention, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan

    Manami Inoue

  12. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

    Marc J. Gunter

  13. Graduate School of Public Health, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan

    Shoichiro Tsugane

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  1. Nagisa Mori
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Contributions

NMurphy, NS, AS, MJG, and ST designed the study. NMori performed the analyses, prepared the tables and drafted the paper. DA, and AS analyzed the samples. NMurphy, NS, DA, and AS supported analyses, discussions and finalizing of the paper. All authors contributed to the interpretation of the results and have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nagisa Mori.

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Mori, N., Murphy, N., Sawada, N. et al. Reproducibility and dietary correlates of plasma polyphenols in the JPHC-NEXT Protocol Area study. Eur J Clin Nutr 78, 34–42 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-023-01349-w

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