A Systematic Screening of Total Antioxidants in Dietary Plants
Open accessAbstract
A predominantly plant-based diet reduces the risk for development of several chronic diseases. It is often assumed that antioxidants contribute to this protection, but results from intervention trials with single antioxidants administered as supplements quite consistently do not support any benefit. Because dietary plants contain several hundred different antioxidants, it would be useful to know the total concentration of electron-donating antioxidants (i.e., reductants) in individual items. Such data might be useful in the identification of the most beneficial dietary plants. We have assessed systematically total antioxidants in a variety of dietary plants used worldwide, including various fruits, berries, vegetables, cereals, nuts and pulses. When possible, we analyzed three or more samples of dietary plants from three different geographic regions in the world. Total antioxidants was assessed by the reduction of Fe(3+) to Fe(2+) (i.e., the FRAP assay), which occurred rapidly with all reductants with half-reaction reduction potentials above that of Fe(3+)/Fe(2+). The values, therefore, expressed the corresponding concentration of electron-donating antioxidants. Our results demonstrated that there is more than a 1000-fold difference among total antioxidants in various dietary plants. Plants that contain most antioxidants included members of several families, such as Rosaceae (dog rose, sour cherry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry), Empetraceae (crowberry), Ericaceae (blueberry), Grossulariaceae (black currant), Juglandaceae (walnut), Asteraceae (sunflower seed), Punicaceae (pomegranate) and Zingiberaceae (ginger). In a Norwegian diet, fruits, berries and cereals contributed 43.6%, 27.1% and 11.7%, respectively, of the total intake of plant antioxidants. Vegetables contributed only 8.9%. The systematic analysis presented here will facilitate research into the nutritional role of the combined effect of antioxidants in dietary plants.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
A considerable number of studies with non-purified dietary constituents containing polyphenolic components have shown promise in inhibiting diseases in which oxidative stress is implicated.
“A considerable number of studies with non-purified dietary constituents containing the above polyphenolic components have also shown promise in inhibiting diseases in which oxidative stress is implicated [1825,1903-1906].”
From Iron behaving badly: inappropriate iron chelation as a major contributor to the aetiology of vascular and other progressive inflammatory and degenerative diseases (2009) · cites this paper as [1825]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
The Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) as a Measure of “Antioxidant Power”: The FRAP Assay
Benzie, I. F. F., & Strain, J. (1996) · Analytical Biochemistry · doi:10.1006/abio.1996.0292 · Cited by 23,027 · see citing works
Oxidants, antioxidants, and the degenerative diseases of aging.
Ames, B. N., Shigenaga, M. K., & Hagen, T. M. (1993) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.90.17.7915 · Cited by 5,958 · see citing works
Schafer, F. Q., & Buettner, G. R. (2001) · Free Radical Biology and Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0891-5849(01)00480-4 · Cited by 4,587 · see citing works
Oxidative stress: oxidants and antioxidants
Sies, H. (1997) · Experimental Physiology · doi:10.1113/expphysiol.1997.sp004024 · Cited by 4,577 · see citing works
Willett, W. C. (1998) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195122978.001.0001 · Cited by 4,541 · see citing works
The Free Radical Theory of Aging Matures
BECKMAN, K. B., & AMES, B. N. (1998) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.1998.78.2.547 · Cited by 3,879 · see citing works
Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease
Omenn, G. S., Goodman, G. E., Thornquist, M. D., Balmes, J., Cullen, M. R., Glass, A., Keogh, J. P., Meyskens, F. L., Valanis, B., Williams, J. H., et al. (1996) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm199605023341802 · Cited by 3,638 · see citing works
The Pecking Order of Free Radicals and Antioxidants: Lipid Peroxidation, α-Tocopherol, and Ascorbate
Buettner, G. R. (1993) · Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics · doi:10.1006/abbi.1993.1074 · Cited by 2,417 · cited 3× · see citing works
“Schafer, F. Q. & Buettner, G. R. (2001) Redox environment of the cell as viewed through the redox state of the glutathione disulfide/glutathione couple.”
BackgroundAntioxidant and redox regulation of gene transcription
Sen, C. K., & Packer, L. (1996) · The FASEB Journal · doi:10.1096/fasebj.10.7.8635688 · Cited by 1,996 · see citing works
Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease
Halliwell, B. B. (1996) · Annual Review of Nutrition · doi:10.1146/annurev.nu.16.070196.000341 · Cited by 1,707 · see citing works
Total Antioxidant Capacity of Fruits
Wang, H., Cao, G., & Prior, R. L. (1996) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/jf950579y · Cited by 1,686 · see citing works
Oxygen-radical absorbance capacity assay for antioxidants
Cao, G., Alessio, H. M., & Cutler, R. G. (1993) · Free Radical Biology and Medicine · doi:10.1016/0891-5849(93)90027-r · Cited by 1,612 · see citing works
Fahey, J. W., Zhang, Y., & Talalay, P. (1997) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.94.19.10367 · Cited by 1,380 · see citing works
Antioxidant Capacity of Tea and Common Vegetables
Cao, G., Sofic, E., & Prior, R. L. (1996) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/jf9602535 · Cited by 1,297 · see citing works
Omenn, G. S., Goodman, G. E., Thornquist, M. D., Balmes, J., Cullen, M. R., Glass, A., Keogh, J. P., Meyskens, F. L., Valanis, B., Williams, J. H., et al. (1996) · JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute · doi:10.1093/jnci/88.21.1550 · Cited by 1,255 · see citing works
Vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, and other carotenoids as antioxidants
Sies, H., & Stahl, W. (1995) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/62.6.1315s · Cited by 1,075 · see citing works
Antioxidant defence mechanisms: From the beginning to the end (of the beginning)
Halliwell, B. B. (1999) · Free Radical Research · doi:10.1080/10715769900300841 · Cited by 1,023 · see citing works
Free Radicals and Antioxidants in the Year 2000: A Historical Look to the Future
Gutteridge, J. M. C., & Halliwell, B. B. (2000) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb06182.x · Cited by 1,002 · see citing works
Albanes, D., Heinonen, O. P., Taylor, P. R., Virtamo, J., Edwards, B. K., Rautalahti, M. T., Hartman, A. M., Palmgren, J., Freedman, L. S., Haapakoski, J., et al. (1996) · JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute · doi:10.1093/jnci/88.21.1560 · Cited by 902 · see citing works
Does vitamin C act as a pro‐oxidant under physiological conditions?
Carr, A. C., & Frei, B. B. (1999) · The FASEB Journal · doi:10.1096/fasebj.13.9.1007 · Cited by 883 · see citing works
Carotenoid content of fruits and vegetables: An evaluation of analytic data
Mangels, A. R., Holden, J. M., Beecher, G. R., Forman, M. R., & Lanza, E. (1993) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/0002-8223(93)91553-3 · Cited by 847 · see citing works
Halliwell, B. (2000) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(00)02075-4 · Cited by 655 · see citing works
Dietary Guidelines for Healthy American Adults
Krauss, R. M., Deckelbaum, R. J., Ernst, N. D., Fisher, E. A. A., Howard, B. V., Knopp, R. H., Kotchen, T. A., Lichtenstein, A. H., McGill, H. C., Pearson, T. A., et al. (1996) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/01.cir.94.7.1795 · Cited by 582 · see citing works
Rapola, J., Virtamo, J. R. K., Ripatti, S., Huttunen, J. K., Albanes, D., Taylor, P. R., & Heinonen, O. P. (1997) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(97)01234-8 · Cited by 569 · see citing works
Antioxidant Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables: Diet and Health Implications
Prior, R. L., & Cao, G. (2000) · HortScience · doi:10.21273/hortsci.35.4.588 · Cited by 559 · see citing works
Molecular Aspects of α-Tocotrienol Antioxidant Action and Cell Signalling
Packer, L., Weber, S. U., & Rimbach, G. H. (2001) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/131.2.369s · Cited by 520 · see citing works
Can antioxidant vitamins materially reduce oxidative damage in humans?
McCall, M. R., & Frei, B. B. (1999) · Free Radical Biology and Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00302-5 · Cited by 485 · see citing works
Antioxidant Content of Whole Grain Breakfast Cereals, Fruits and Vegetables
Miller, H. E., Rigelhof, F., Marquart, L. F., Prakash, A. R., & Kanter, M. (2000) · Journal of the American College of Nutrition · doi:10.1080/07315724.2000.10718966 · Cited by 471 · see citing works
Whole‐grain intake and cancer: An expanded review and meta‐analysis
Jacobs, D. R., Marquart, L., Slavin, J., & Kushi, L. H. (1998) · Nutrition and Cancer · doi:10.1080/01635589809514647 · Cited by 423 · see citing works
Self-citationChemoprotection against cancer by induction of Phase 2 enzymes
Talalay, P. (2000) · BioFactors · doi:10.1002/biof.5520120102 · Cited by 421 · see citing works
Paganga, G., Miller, N., & Rice-Evans, C. A. (1999) · Free Radical Research · doi:10.1080/10715769900300161 · Cited by 391 · see citing works
Spectrophotometric determination of antioxidant activity
Miller, N. J., & Rice-Evans, C. A. (1996) · Redox Report · doi:10.1080/13510002.1996.11747044 · Cited by 362 · see citing works
Briviba, K., Klotz, L., & Sies, H. (1997) · PubMed · Cited by 224 · see citing works
A Historical Perspective on Garlic and Cancer
Milner, J. A. (2001) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/131.3.1027s · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Dietary flavonols protect diabetic human lymphocytes against oxidative damage to DNA.
Lean, M. E. J., Noroozi, M., Kelly, I. R., Burns, J., Talwar, D., Sattar, N. A., & Crozier, A. (1999) · Diabetes · doi:10.2337/diabetes.48.1.176 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
DeLange, R. J., & Glazer, A. N. (1989) · Analytical Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/0003-2697(89)90056-0 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Vitamin C: poison, prophylactic or panacea?
Halliwell, B. B. (1999) · Trends in Biochemical Sciences · doi:10.1016/s0968-0004(99)01418-8 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Absorption and DNA protective effects of flavonoid glycosides from an onion meal
Boyle, S. P., Dobson, V. L., Duthie, S. J., Kyle, J. A. M., & Collins, A. R. (2000) · European Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1007/s003940070014 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
Reduction of oxidative DNA-damage in humans by Brussels sprouts
Verhagen, H., Poulsen, H. E., Loft, S. H., van Poppel, G., Willems, M. I., & van BLADEREN, P. J. (1995) · Carcinogenesis · doi:10.1093/carcin/16.4.969 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
The American Cancer Society 1996 Advisory Committee on Diet, N. (1996) · CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians · doi:10.3322/canjclin.46.6.325 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
No Influence of Beta Carotene on Oxidative DNA Damage in Male Smokers
vanPoppel, G., Poulsen, H. E., Loft, S. H., et al. (1995) · JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute · doi:10.1093/jnci/87.4.310 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Goals for nutrition in the year 2000
Willett, W. C. (1999) · CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians · doi:10.3322/canjclin.49.6.331 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Effect of Brussels sprouts on oxidative DNA-damage in man
Verhagen, H., de Vries, A., Nijhoff, W. A., et al. (1997) · Cancer Letters · doi:10.1016/s0304-3835(97)04641-7 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Davidson, A. (1999) The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford Univer- sity Press, Oxford, UK.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Shahidi, F., & Ambigaipalan, P. (2015) · Journal of Functional Foods · doi:10.1016/j.jff.2015.06.018 · Cited by 3,081 · see citing works
Lansky, E. P., & Newman, R. A. (2007) · Journal of Ethnopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.006 · Cited by 1,290 · see citing works
Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Common Vegetables
Chu, Y.-F., Sun, J., Wu, X., & Liu, R. H. (2002) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/jf020665f · Cited by 937 · see citing works
Nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns as exposures in research: a framework for food synergy
Jacobs, D. R., & Steffen, L. M. (2003) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/78.3.508s · Cited by 640 · see citing works
Self-citationKell, D. B. (2009) · BMC Medical Genomics · doi:10.1186/1755-8794-2-2 · Cited by 554 · see citing works
Health benefits of nuts: potential role of antioxidants
Blomhoff, R., Carlsen, M. H., Andersen, L. F., & Jacobs, D. R. (2006) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1017/bjn20061864 · Cited by 430 · see citing works
Self-citationDate Fruits ( <i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> Linn): An Emerging Medicinal Food
Vayalil, P. K. (2012) · Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition · doi:10.1080/10408398.2010.499824 · Cited by 323 · see citing works
Valls-Pedret, C., Lamuela-Raventós, R. M., Medina-Remón, A., Quintana, M., Corella, D., Pintó, X., Martínez-González, M. Á., Estruch, R., & Ros, E. (2012) · Journal of Alzheimer's Disease · doi:10.3233/jad-2012-111799 · Cited by 309 · see citing works
Nuts and novel biomarkers of cardiovascular disease
Ros, E. (2009) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.26736r · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Andersen, L. F., Jacobs, D. R., Carlsen, M. H., & Blomhoff, R. (2006) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/83.5.1039 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
Self-citationDietary cis-monounsaturated fatty acids and metabolic control in type 2 diabetes
Ros, E. (2003) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/78.3.617s · Cited by 192 · see citing works
The impact of the stone age diet on gingival conditions in the absence of oral hygiene
Baumgartner, S., Imfeld, T., Schicht, O., Rath, C., Persson, R. E., & Persson, G. R. (2009) · Journal of Periodontology · doi:10.1902/jop.2009.080376 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Inhibition of Protein Glycation by Extracts of Culinary Herbs and Spices
Dearlove, R. P., Greenspan, P., Hartle, D. K., Swanson, R. B., & Hargrove, J. L. (2008) · Journal of Medicinal Food · doi:10.1089/jmf.2007.536 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Mukuddem-Petersen, J., Stonehouse (Oosthuizen), W., Jerling, J. C., Hanekom, S. M., & White, Z. (2007) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s0007114507682944 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Gull, J., Sultana, B., Anwar, F., Naseer, R., Ashraf, M., & Ashrafuzzaman, M. (2012) · Molecules · doi:10.3390/molecules17033165 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Payne, A. C., Mazzer, A., Clarkson, G. J. J., & Taylor, G. (2013) · Food Science & Nutrition · doi:10.1002/fsn3.71 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Whole Grain Intake and Coronary Heart Disease Risk
Tang, G., Wang, D., Long, J., Yang, F., & Si, L. (2015) · The American Journal of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.12.015 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Rajaei, A., Hadian, M., Mohsenifar, A., Rahmani-Cherati, T., & Tabatabaei, M. (2017) · Food Packaging and Shelf Life · doi:10.1016/j.fpsl.2017.10.005 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Rodríguez‐Villar, C., Pérez‐Heras, A., Mercadé, I., Casals, E., & Ros, E. (2004) · Diabetic Medicine · doi:10.1046/j.1464-5491.2003.01086.x · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Kim, K., Vance, T., & Chun, O. (2016) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu8010015 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Tobore, T. O. (2020) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112560 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Svendsen, M., Blomhoff, R., Holme, I., & Tonstad, S. (2007) · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602652 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Self-citationDarvin, M. E., Fluhr, J. W., Schanzer, S., Richter, H., Patzelt, A., Meinke, M. C., Zastrow, L., Golz, K., Doucet, O., Sterry, W., et al. (2011) · Journal of Dermatological Science · doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2011.06.009 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
- Authors
- Halvorsen, B. L., Holte, K., Myhrstad, M. C. W., Barikmo, I., Hvattum, E., Remberg, S. F., Wold, A.-B., Haffner, K., Baugerød, H., Andersen, L. F., Moskaug, Ø., Jacobs, D. R., & Blomhoff, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Oslo (NO)
- OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University (NO)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Corresponding author
- Blomhoff, Rune
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-03
- Volume
- 132
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 461-471
- ISSN
- 0022-3166 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2128318044
- Cited by
- 1,122
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 68 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 60 · 2012: 70
- FWCI
- 15.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Norges Forskningsråd
- Novo Nordisk Fonden
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Keywords
- dietary antioxidants, total antioxidant capacity, plant-based diet, fruits, berries, vegetables, cereals, nuts, pulses, FRAP, redox potential, antioxidant intake, Rosaceae, Ericaceae, Punica granatum, ginger, sunflower seeds, black currant, blueberry, Rosa canina, Juglans regia, chronic disease prevention
- MeSH terms
- Antioxidants, Edible Grain, Diet, Ferric Compounds, Ferrous Compounds, Fruit, Humans, Fabaceae, Norway, Nuts, Oxidation-Reduction, Plants, Edible, Seeds, Vegetables, Plant Roots, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Juglandaceae, Ericaceae, Zingiberaceae
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
