BACKGROUND: It is commonly believed that higher nutrient content equates to healthier foods and that food processing lowers nutrient content, although bioavailability studies often indicate otherwise. Blueberries, a rich source of (poly)phenols with proven health benefits, provide a feasible model to evaluate phytochemical bioavailability following consumption of raw and processed fruits. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the effect of processing on the bioavailability of (poly)phenols following consumption of 4 interventions: 2 blueberry varieties (i.e., Elliott and Olympia) selected based on differing (poly)phenol content and in vitro bioaccessibility, a (poly)phenol-rich protein bar providing an equivalent amount of blueberries, and a control beverage. METHODS: This blinded, randomized, 4-way crossover, controlled trial (n = 18
42.06 ± 12.53 y
body mass index [BMI] 24.75 ± 2.97 kg/m RESULTS: Recovery of metabolites was similar following consumption of blueberry varieties of differing (poly)phenol composition, with higher total urinary recovery after Elliott blueberry relative to Olympia blueberry and protein bar (21% and 29%, respectively). Serum AUC was similar across berry-derived treatments, whereas differences in maximum concentration (C CONCLUSIONS: Differing berry (poly)phenol content and bioaccessibility only minimally affects bioavailability following consumption of blueberries relative to a blueberry-rich protein bar, suggesting (poly)phenol-dense foods, such as bars and snacks, could provide similar health benefits as raw fruits. Further studies using other crops are required to assess if these findings are translatable. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04175106.