According to research comparing purple-fleshed and white-fleshed potatoes, how much greater was the antioxidant activity observed in the purple variety when measured gram-for-gram?
Two to three times greater
Studies quantifying the antioxidant potential demonstrated a marked superiority in purple potatoes compared to their white or yellow counterparts. Specifically, when comparing measurements on a gram-for-gram basis, purple potatoes exhibit an antioxidant activity that is two to three times greater than that found in white or yellow varieties. This superior activity is directly linked to the high concentration of phenolic compounds present, including anthocyanins and other molecules like rutin, quercetin, catechins, and chlorogenic acid. The practical implication of this finding is substantial, as consumption of purple potatoes has been shown to raise antioxidant levels in subjects' blood and urine, contrasting with refined starches which caused a measured decrease.
