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Submitted to: International Conference of Polyphenols
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2016 Publication Date: 7/11/2016 Citation: Lee, J. 2016. Issues with fruit dietary supplements in the US - authentication by anthocyanin. Proceedings from XXVIIIth International Conference of Polyphenols; July 11-15, 2016; Vienna, Austria. 2016:402-403. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Current fruit-based dietary supplements in the US marketplace have no obligation to meet any fruit-component concentration requirement. For example, berry supplements might be promoted for their high anthocyanin content, but they actually have no standard or minimum anthocyanin threshold for legal sale. For this study, US available Vaccinium, Rubus, Fragaria, and Prunus fruit based dietary supplements (n=97) were purchased and analyzed; each product’s anthocyanin profile (based on HPLC separation) was employed to determine if its declared fruit origin was authentic. Over 25% of the fruit dietary supplements products available did not contain the indicated fruit-based anthocyanin ingredient. Fourteen supplements contained no anthocyanins. Eleven others had contents that were different from their labeled fruit ingredients (e.g., bilberry capsules containing Andean blueberry fruit, cherry capsules containing highbush blueberry anthocyanins, etc.). Of the samples that clearly did contain the specified fruit (n=69), anthocyanin content ranged from 0.02 to 145.2 mg per capsule, tablet, or teaspoon (5g). Anthocyanin profiling can still be used in quality control and authenticity determination. Based on these findings, there is room to improve anthocyanin quality in dietary supplement products available in the US marketplace. |
