Non-enzymatic degradation of flavan-3-ols by ascorbic acid- and sugar-derived aldehydes during storage of apple juices and concentrates produced with the innovative spiral filter press.

Potentially health-promoting concentrations of flavan-3-ols were previously shown to be retained in apple juices produced with the emerging spiral filter press. Due to the novelty of this technology, the factors governing the stability of flavan-3-ol-rich apple juices have only scarcely been studied. Therefore, we produced flavan-3-ol-rich apple juices and concentrates (16, 40, 70 °Brix) supplemented with ascorbic acid (0.0, 0.2, 1.0 g/L) according to common practice. Flavan-3-ols (DP1-7) and twelve flavan-3-ol reaction products were comprehensively characterized and monitored during storage for 16 weeks at 20 and 37 °C, employing RP-UHPLC- and HILIC-DAD-ESI(-)-QTOF-HR-MS/MS. Flavan-3-ol degradation followed a second-order reaction kinetic, being up to 3.5-times faster in concentrates (70 °Brix) than in single strength juices (16 °Brix). Furthermore, they diminished substantially faster compared to other phenolic compounds. For instance, after 16-weeks at 20 °C, the maximum loss of flavan-3-ols (-70 %) was greater than those of hydroxycinnamic acids (-18 %) and dihydrochalcones (-12 %). We observed that flavan-3-ols formed adducts with sugars and other carbonyls, such as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural and the ascorbic acid-derived L-xylosone. Increased degradation rates correlated particularly with increased furan aldehyde levels as found in concentrates stored at elevated temperatures. These insights could be used for optimizing production, distribution, and storage of flavan-3-ol-rich apple juices and other foods and beverages.