title: Antioxidant activity of blueberry fruit is impaired by association with milk.
abstract: The antioxidant properties of dietary phenolics are believed to be reduced in vivo because of their affinity for proteins. In this study we assessed the bioavailability of phenolics and the in vivo plasma antioxidant capacity after the consumption of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) with and without milk. In a crossover design, 11 healthy human volunteers consumed either (a) 200 g of blueberries plus 200 ml of water or (b) 200 g of blueberries plus 200 ml of whole milk. Venous samples were collected at baseline and at 1, 2, and 5 h postconsumption. Ingestion of blueberries increased plasma levels of reducing and chain-breaking potential (+6.1%, p<0.001; +11.1%, p<0.05) and enhanced plasma concentrations of caffeic and ferulic acid. When blueberries and milk were ingested there was no increase in plasma antioxidant capacity. There was a reduction in the peak plasma concentrations of caffeic and ferulic acid (-49.7%, p<0.001, and -19.8%, p<0.05, respectively) as well as the overall absorption (AUC) of caffeic acid (p<0.001). The ingestion of blueberries in association with milk, thus, impairs the in vivo antioxidant properties of blueberries and reduces the absorption of caffeic acid.
authors.affiliation: Antioxidant Research Laboratory, Unit of Human Nutrition, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione, 00178 Rome, Italy. serafini_mauro@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villaño
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pecorari
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Wieren
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azzini
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiani
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001682:Biological Availability; D029798:Blueberry Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000097:blood; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000097:blood; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D003373:Coumaric Acids; C004999:ferulic acid; C040048:caffeic acid