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Objective: To assess whether consumption of 500 m1 of blueberry juice or cranberry juice by healthy female subjects increased plasma phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Design: Latin square arrangement to eliminate ordering effects. After an overnight fast, nine volunteers consumed 500 ml of blueberry juice, cranberry juice or a sucrose solution (control); each volunteer participated on three occasions one week apart, consuming one of the beverages each time. Blood samples were obtained by venipuncture at intervals up to four hours after consumption of the juices. Urine samples were also obtained four hours after consuming the juice. Results: Consumption of cranberry juice resulted in a significant increase in the ability of plasma to reduce potassium nitrosodisulphonate and Fe(III)-2,4,6-Tri(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine, these measures of antioxidant capacity attaining a maximum after 60-120min. This corresponded to a 30% increase in vitamin C and a small but significant increase in total phenols in plasma. Consumption of blueberry juice had no such effects. Conclusion: The increase in plasma antioxidant capacity following consumption of cranberry juice could mainly be accounted for by an increase in vitamin C rather than phenolics. This also accounted for the lack of an effect of the phenolic-rich but vitamin C-low blueberry juice. Sponsorship: Funded by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department and the Danish Government. Descriptors: vitamin C; phenolics; cranberry; blueberry; antioxidant capacity, Introduction Diets rich in fruits and vegetables are believed to protect against various diseases common in the western world such as cardiovascular disease and several forms of cancer. This beneficial [...]

A new study investigates whether consumption of 100 ml of whisky or red wine by healthy male volunteers increases antioxidant capacity and plasma total phenol content. Results show that antioxidant capacity and plasma total phenol content both increased within 30 min of consumption of wine and whisky. The outcome is compatible with the proposal that the risk of coronary heart disease is decreased with moderate alcohol consumption.