The uptake and metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene from a sample food substrate in an in vitro model of digestion

Food ingestion is the major route of exposure to many hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). It has been proposed that food-bound HOCs may become bioavailable after their mobilization by gastrointestinal fluids. The purpose of this research was to measure the uptake efficiency of [14C]-BaP bound to skim milk powder using an in vitro model of gastrointestinal digestion followed by sorption to human enterocytes (Caco-2 cells). Neutralization of intestinal fluids released [14C]-BaP into the soluble fraction. Ageing of benzo[a]pyrene onto skim milk for 6 months significantly decreased the mobilized fraction but did not affect the amount of benzo[a]pyrene taken up into Caco-2 cells. Hence, significant differences in aqueous phase concentrations may not always be reflected in significant differences in uptake. We obtained evidence that the digestion/uptake of skim milk lipids is accompanied by the diffusive uptake of BaP (the fat flush hypothesis) as trans-cellular transfer of BaP was favoured in the apical to basolateral direction. These data support the theory that non-polar substances including HOCs are preferentially transferred from the lumen into the bloodstream and provide indirect evidence that the uptake is related to the fugacity gradient created by the unidirectional uptake of dietary lipids.