title: Polyphenol and vitamin C contents in European commercial blackcurrant juice products.
abstract: Vitamin C and polyphenol contents (anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids and flavonols) were analysed in commercial blackcurrant juice products purchased from various European countries (Finland, Poland, Germany, United Kingdom) using HPLC methods. The aim was to study variation between countries, as well as evaluate the intake of polyphenols from commercial juices. There was significant variation in the contents of polyphenols and vitamin C between countries. Expressed as the ready-to-drink beverages, German, Polish, Finnish and British products averaged anthocyanin contents of 38, 32, 12 and 7.5mg/2.5dl, proanthocyanidin contents of 27, 24, 10 and 1.2mg/2.5dl, flavonol contents of 16, 15, 5.2 & 1.9mg/2.5dl and phenolic acid contents of 12, 8.9, 3.7 and 1.5mg/2.5dl, respectively. The mean vitamin C content was highest in British (70mg/2.5dl) and lowest in Finnish products (15mg/2.5dl). The intake of polyphenols from German and Polish ready-to-drink beverages was clearly higher than that from Finnish, and especially, British beverages.
authors.affiliation: MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, ET-talo, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland. Electronic address: pirjo.mattila@mtt.fi.
authors.forename: Pirjo H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.affiliation: MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, ET-talo, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
authors.forename: Jarkko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hellström
authors.affiliation: Plant Products and Food Quality, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.affiliation: Plant Products and Food Quality, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.affiliation: MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, ET-talo, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha-Matti
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pihlava
authors.affiliation: MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, ET-talo, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiirikka
authors.affiliation: Plant Products and Food Quality, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Department of Biosciences, Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, E-talo, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
authors.forename: Reijo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
keywords: Anthocyanins; Blackcurrant juice; Flavonols; Phenolic acids; Polyphenols; Proanthocyanidins; Vitamin C