Metabolic Profiling of Flavonol Metabolites in Human Urine by Liquid Chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Twenty-one flavonol metabolites have been identified by LC/ESI-MS/MS in human urine, including isomers, after the consumption of cooked onions. Metabolites identified include quercetin monoglucuronides, methyl quercetin monoglucuronides, a quercetin monoglucuronide sulfate, quercetin diglucuronides, a methyl quercetin diglucuronide, quercetin glucoside sulfates, methyl quercetin, quercetin, and kaempferol monoglucuronides. The fragmentation patterns of flavonol metabolites obtained by MS/MS were distinctive for some isomers, indicating that fragmentation patterns may be useful predictors of conjugation position. Two isomers of sulfate quercetin glucosides were also found in urine, suggesting that many of the quercetin glucosides in onion are absorbed intact and undergo metabolism to the sulfate conjugate. Additionally, the interindividual variation in urinary quercetin metabolite profiles was determined by comparing the relative level of six different quercetin metabolites excreted in the urine of healthy volunteers. The ranges of quercetin metabolites excreted were similar among volunteers, yet notable differences in the levels of metabolites among individuals were observed. This study demonstrates the potential of monitoring the range of quercetin metabolites to reveal information on interindividual biotransformation capacity in response to dietary manipulations and as a biomarker for flavonol consumption.