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Polyphenols are phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. There are over 8 000 identified polyphenols found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, berries, tea, wine, cocoa etc. Epidemiological studies indicate that polyphenols play an important role in prevention of degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Health benefits of polyphenols depend on the amount consumed and on their bioavailability. Contents of individual polyphenols in various food have been determined by chromatography (several hundred publications) and compiled in the Phenol-Explorer database. Our objective was to evaluate content of polyphenols in various fruits, berries and beverages using this database, and to identify the richest sources of polyphenols among them. The database contains more than 35 000 content values for 500 different polyphenols in over 400 foods. The Phenol-Explorer data were used to identify the richest sources of polyphenols among fruits, berries and beverages, in order to determine which of them contribute significantly to polyphenol intake. Total polyphenol content was calculated as the sum of the contents of all individual polyphenols (as determined by chromatography) and was compared with the content of antioxidants in the same foods, which was extracted from the same database. Based on data obtained by comprehensive queries in Phenol-Explorer database, ranking of selected foods polyphenol content was made. Obtained results show polyphenol content in selected food items varying from 3 448 mg per 100 g in cocoa powder to 10 mg per 100 ml in wine. The Phenol-Explorer data were used successfully to determine the richest dietary sources of polyphenols among fruits, berries and beverages, which significantly contribute to polyphenol intake. The richest sources of polyphenols in selected food items are determined to be cocoa products and some darkly colored berries. |
