Anthocyanins and their role in berry health benefits

Content from this paper was presented as part of the IHC 2014 Berry Crop Symposium in a talk entitled “Berries = Antioxidants? No, Biology is Never That Simple”. After almost two decades of research investigating berries and human health it is now generally accepted that berry antioxidant capacity does not contribute substantially to berry health benefits.
While the abundant anthocyanins (ANCs) in berry crops contribute substantially to total in vitro berry antioxidant capacity, these ANC forms are only poorly absorbed by the body.
The in vivo concentration of food forms of ANC is too low for them to act directly as antioxidants alongside abundant plasma antioxidants like ascorbic and uric acids and vitamin E. While the in vivo mechanisms of berry ANCs action remain elusive, epidemiological evidence for human health benefits related specifically to ANCs is increasing.
Identifying the specific forms of ANCs that are active in human health remains an important goal.
Recent research shows that ANCs are rapidly converted to a wide range of products due to the action of the body’s Phase 2 (i.e., drug) metabolism, and the metabolism by bacteria residing in the large intestine.
While some of an ANC dose will be rapidly metabolized and eliminated from the body via urine, breath, and feces, ANC metabolites can also persist and recycle in the gastrointestinal tract over a very long period.
These recent findings may help to refocus research interest on ANCs, which are arguably one of the most abundant and important contributors to berry health benefits.

XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): II International Berry Fruit Symposium: Interactions! Local and Global Berry Research and Innovation

W. Kalt

antioxidants, anthocyanins, bioavailability, health, phenolic

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1117.31