The use of alternative sweeteners (sucralose and stevia) in healthy soft-drink beverages, enhances the bioavailability of polyphenols relative to the classical caloric sucrose.

• Plasma concentration of bioavailable (poly)phenols was assessed upon a longitudinal intervention. • Influence of sweetener on intestinal absorption of maqui-citrus (poly)phenols was evaluated. • Sucralose and stevia allowed the highest bioavailability in the majority of cases. • Sucralose and stevia were found as suitable alternative to sucrose in term of (poly)phenols bioavailability. The comparison of non-caloric sweeteners (stevia and sucralose) and sucrose, on the plasma concentration and cumulative effects of phenolic compounds, was achieved. A long-term intervention, consisting of the daily intake of 330 mL of healthy citrus-maqui soft drinks, for 60 days, by 138 healthy overweight adults, was followed. A total of 24 bioavailable metabolites derived from caffeic acid, 3,4-di-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, eriodictyol, homoeriodictyol, hippuric acid, naringenin, 2,4,6-tri-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and vanillic acid were detected in peripheral blood plasma. A similar augment of bioactive compounds in plasma concentrations were found for the three beverages, in the range 12.3% (day 0)- 85.3% (day 60), depending on the analyte considered. Due to this, the present study highlights sucralose and stevia as valuable alternatives to sucrose, providing and non-significantly different plasma concentration and cumulative effect in the plasma, thus contributing to prevent a diversity of metabolic disorders and health constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]