Contribution of Blood Orange-Based Beverages to Bioactive Compounds Intake

Elena Arena,Biagio Fallico,Fabio Licciardello,Valeria Rizzo

doi:10.3389/fchem.2018.00374

Elena Arena, Biagio Fallico + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00374

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Abstract

The study aimed at screening the levels of ascorbic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) and total anthocyanins in commercial beverages containing blood orange juice (BOJ), estimating the contribution of these products to the intake of health-promoting compounds and at discussing the actual value of the products on a price/bioactive level basis. Results demonstrate that the reference to BOJ in many beverages is misleading, as inferred from the very low bioactive levels observed. These beverages, in label should refer as “water-based” instead of “fruit-based beverage.” Accordingly, the intake of bioactives from BOJ-based beverages, with the exception of ascorbic acid used in the most cases as preservative, is often very low. The intake of bioactive components from blood orange consumption is much higher compared to the consumption of BOJ-based beverages, hence the consumption of blood oranges and 100% BOJs should be preferred in order to guarantee the intake of a rich pool of bioactive compounds. Finally, the market value of BOJ-based beverages is not correlated with their real nutritional value: the relative unitary cost of the three classes of bioactive compounds considered increased in the order: fresh blood oranges < 100% BOJ < BOJ-based beverages. Hence, the consumption of fresh blood oranges represents the cheapest way to ensure the intake of health-promoting bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and HCAs.

Highlights

Blood oranges are considered a health-promoting food thanks to the pool of bioactive compounds characterizing their composition, with special regards for ascorbic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), and anthocyanins (Riso et al, 2005; Guarnieri et al, 2007)
Hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), as well as other phenolic compounds have proved to be effective in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, their efficacy depends on the level of intake and on their bioavailability
Blood oranges are widely regarded as a health-promoting product, and consumers might consider blood orange juice (BOJ)-containing beverages as beneficial for their health compared to other soft drinks: this study demonstrates, that this claim does not correspond to high levels of health-promoting compounds

Summary

Introduction

Blood oranges are considered a health-promoting food thanks to the pool of bioactive compounds characterizing their composition, with special regards for ascorbic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), and anthocyanins (Riso et al, 2005; Guarnieri et al, 2007). Hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), the most widely distributed phenolics in plants, contribute in the diet as antioxidant and free-radical scavengers. They play a crucial role in the flavor alteration of blood oranges (Fallico et al, 1996) and their distribution, ferulic, sinapic, p-coumaric, and caffeic, Bioactives in Fruit Beverages has been demonstrated to be a marker of Italian blood orange juices (Rapisarda et al, 1998). Hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), as well as other phenolic compounds have proved to be effective in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, their efficacy depends on the level of intake and on their bioavailability

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