Blanching improves anthocyanin absorption from highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) purée in healthy human volunteers: a pilot study.
Blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum  L.) are rich sources of phenolics and anthocyanins (ACNs). We investigated the absorption of ACNs after consumption of one portion (300 g) of minimally processed blueberry purée (P) obtained from blanched (BL) or unblanched (NB) berries. A repeated-measures, crossover design study was conducted on healthy human volunteers. Blood was drawn between baseline and 24 h after BL-P or NB-P consumption, while urine were collected from the day before the experiment up to 48 h. Total plasma ACN content was not significantly different, while phenolics content was higher in BL-P with respect to NB-P. The maximum ACN absorption in plasma was observed after 1.5 h from the intake of the purées and was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) after the intake of BL-P. Both products increased the excretion of hippuric acid in urine. In conclusion, blanching had no significant effect on total ACN content and enhanced their absorption from minimally processed purées.
Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Cristian
C
Del Bo'
Patrizia
P
Riso
Ada
A
Brambilla
Claudio
C
Gardana
Anna
A
Rizzolo
Paolo
P
Simonetti
Gianni
G
Bertolo
Dorothy
D
Klimis-Zacas
Marisa
M
Porrini
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D029798:Blueberry Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult
D000872:Anthocyanins