Effects of Hesperidin Consumption on the Cardiovascular System in Pre- and Stage 1 Hypertensive Subjects: Targeted and Non-Targeted Metabolomic Approaches (CITRUS Study).

Scope: The aim of the present work is to determine new biomarkers of the biological effects of hesperidin in orange juice (OJ) applying a non-targeted metabolomics approach validated by targeted metabolomics analyses of compliance biomarkers.

Methods And Results: Plasma/serum and urine targeted (HPLC-MS/MS) and untargeted ( H-NMR) metabolomics signatures are explored in a subsample with pre- and stage-1 hypertension subjects of the CITRUS study (N = 159). Volunteers received 500 mL day of control drink, OJ, or hesperidin-enriched OJ (EOJ) for 12-weeks. A 6-h postprandrial study is performed at baseline. Targeted analyses reveals plasma and urine hesperetin 7-O-β-d-glucuronide as the only metabolite differing between OJ and EOJ groups after 12-weeks consumption, and in urine is correlated with a decreased systolic blood pressure level. The non-targeted approach shows that after single dose and 12-weeks consumption of OJ and EOJ change several metabolites related with an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, lower blood pressure levels and uremic toxins.

Conclusions: Hesperetin 7-O-β-d-glucuronide can be a candidate marker for distinguishing between the consumption of different hesperidin doses at 12-weeks consumption as well as a potential agent mediating blood pressure reduction. Moreover, changes in different endogenous metabolites can explain the mechanisms of action and the biological effects of hesperidin consumption.