Comparative bio-accessibility, bioavailability and bioequivalence of quercetin, apigenin, glucoraphanin and carotenoids from freeze-dried vegetables incorporated into a baked snack versus minimally processed vegetables: Evidence from <i>in vitro</i> models and a human bioavailability study.

"NPM, SS, MP, MSW, WJH, VvdV, PJC have no conflicts of interest to declare. MS and JB are employees of PepsiCo. PepsiCo part funded the research reported here and is the assignee for a patent application that relates to the research reported here, and MS, JB, PAK and DJH are proposed inventors on this patent application."

"This research was supported by a grant from Innovate UK (Grant number 101120) with additional support from PepsiCo Inc and from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK) through an Institute Strategic Programme Grant (‘Food and Health’, Grant No: BB/J004545/1) to the Quadram Institute Bioscience (formerly Institute of Food Research). The carotenoid analysis in human samples was performed under sub-contractor arrangements by Dr Georg Leitz and Dr Anthony Oxley (both Newcastle University). The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of PepsiCo Inc."

"After National Research Ethics Committee approval, the study was conducted between July and December 2014 at the Clinical Research and Trials facility, (University of East Anglia, United Kingdom). Healthy adults aged ≥18 years, who were non-smokers with no significant pre-existing ill health were screened to take part in this study, with suitability judged by the study research nurses and clinician. Exclusion criteria included: Pregnant or breastfeeding women, current smokers (or ex-smokers ceasing within 3-months), existing or significant past history of diabetes, cancer, hepatic, renal or digestive conditions, prescription of ADME affecting medications, and intake of dietary supplements containing quercetin, apigenin, isothiocyaniates and carotenes. Participants gave written consent before enrolment and the study, which was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02231502), followed the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki."