Value of antioxidant capacity as relevant assessment tool for “health benefits” of fruit - understated or inflated?

Abstract

Consumption of fruit and vegetables is considered to be an inherent part of a healthy diet, but more so since plant antioxidants, and in particular polyphenols, have been linked through in vivo and epidemiological studies with positive health outcomes.^1–3 As a result, polyphenols have been elevated to “lifespan essentials”, because scientific evidence indicated that they are needed by humans to achieve a full lifespan by reducing the risk of a range of chronic diseases.⁴ No Dietary Reference Intake values exist for polyphenols, however, it has been suggested that their target intake value should be based on the total polyphenol content provided by the “5-a-day” portions of fruit and vegetables recommendation by the World Health Organisation.⁵