High consumption of fruit and vegetables has been associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases such as CVD(Reference Ness and Powles1). Flavonoids are a large group of polyphenolic compounds (>5000 identified) abundant in vegetables, fruits, tea and red wine, and thus it has been suggested that they may contribute to the protective effect of these foods(Reference Bravo2). Several cohort studies have suggested that high intake of flavonoids may decrease the risk of CHD(Reference Geleijnse, Launer, Van der Kuip, Hofman and Witteman3–Reference Mink, Scrafford, Barraj, Harnack, Hong, Nettleton and Jacobs16). However, the role in stroke has been studied much less(Reference Youchum, Kushi, Meyer and Folsom8, Reference Arts, Hollman, Feskens, Bueno de Mesquita and Kromhout11–Reference Sesso, Gaziano, Liu and Buring13, Reference Keli, Hertog, Feskens and Kromhout17, Reference Hirvonen, Virtamo, Korhonen, Albanes and Pietinen18).
Out of thousands of identified flavonoids, twenty to thirty compounds from five subclasses (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols and anthocyanidins) have been estimated to contribute significantly to daily dietary intake and thus potentially have effects on health(Reference Dwyer and Peterson19). Epidemiological studies published so far have, however, concentrated mainly on two subclasses: flavonols and flavones(Reference Geleijnse, Launer, Van der Kuip, Hofman and Witteman3–Reference Sesso, Gaziano, Liu and Buring13).
In 2003, the US Department of Agriculture published updated food composition data which contained five subclasses: flavones, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, flavanones and anthocyanidins; a total of twenty-six flavonoids(20). The aim of the present study was to use an updated flavonoid database to investigate the associations between the intake of flavonoids and the risk of stroke and CVD mortality in middle-aged Finnish men. Isoflavonoids were not included in the present study as their intake is very low in Finland.
Material and methods
Study population
The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD) is an ongoing population-based study designed to investigate risk factors for CVD, atherosclerosis and related outcomes in middle-aged men from eastern Finland(Reference Salonen21). The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Kuopio. All study subjects gave their written informed consent. A total of 2682 participants (82·9 % of those eligible), aged 42, 48, 54 or 60 years, were enrolled in the study between March 1984 and December 1989. Men who had history of CHD or stroke were excluded from the study and after exclusion complete data were available for 1950 subjects.
Measurements
Blood samples were taken between 08.00 and 10.00 hours. Subjects were instructed to abstain from ingesting alcohol for 3 d, and from smoking and eating for 12 h. After the subject had rested in the supine position for 30 min, blood was drawn with Terumo Venoject (Leuven, Belgium) vacuum tubes. No tourniquet was used.
The main serum lipoprotein fractions, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (Kone Instruments, Espoo, Finland) and TAG (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) were determined from fresh serum samples using combined ultracentrifugation and precipitation. Maximal oxygen uptake was measured as previously described(Reference Lakka, Laukkanen, Rauramaa, Salonen, Lakka, Kaplan and Salonen22). Diabetes was assessed by previous diagnosis of diabetes or fasting blood glucose concentration ≥ 6·7 mmol/l. BMI was computed as the ratio of weight to the square of height (kg/m2). Resting systolic blood pressure was measured after supine rest of 5 min, three measurements in supine, one on standing and two in the sitting position with 5 min intervals with a random-zero mercury sphygmomanometer (Hawksley, UK). The mean of all six measurements was used as the systolic blood pressure. The number of cigarettes, cigars and pipefuls of tobacco currently smoked daily, duration of regular smoking in years, alcohol consumption, history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and medication were recorded with a self-administered questionnaire, which was checked by an interviewer. Repeated interviews to obtain medical history of CHD were conducted by a physician. The family history of CHD was defined as positive if either father, mother, sister or brother of the subject had a history of CHD. A subject was defined a smoker if he had ever smoked on a regular basis and had smoked cigarettes, cigars or a pipe within the past 30 d.
Collection and classification of coronary events and strokes
The collection of data and the diagnostic classification of strokes between 1984 and 1992 were carried out as a part of the multinational WHO MONICA (MONItoring of Trends and Determinants in CArdiovascular Diseases) project, in which detailed information of strokes were collected prospectively(Reference Tunstall-Pedoe, Kuulasmaa, Amouyel, Arveiler, Rajakangas and Pajak23). In the FINMONICA study, regional coronary and stroke register teams collected data on strokes from hospitals and wards of health centres and classified the events, as explained in detail previously(Reference Tuomilehto, Rastenyte and Sivenius24). Data on strokes from the beginning of 1993 were obtained by computer linkage to the national hospital discharge and death registers. Strokes were collected and classified by a neurologist using the same procedures as in the FINMONICA study(Reference Tuomilehto, Rastenyte and Sivenius24). The diagnosis of stroke was based on a sudden onset of clinical signs of focal or global disturbance of cerebral function lasting more than 24 h (except in the cases of sudden death or if the development of symptoms was interrupted by surgical intervention) with no apparent cause other than vascular origin. Each suspected stroke (Ninth International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) codes 430–438 and Tenth International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes I60–I68 and G45–G46) was classified into (1) a definite stroke, (2) no stroke or (3) an unclassifiable event. Each definite stroke was classified into (1) an ischaemic stroke (ICD-9 codes 433–434, ICD-10 code I63) or (2) a haemorrhagic stroke (ICD-9 codes 430–443, ICD-10 codes I60–I61)(Reference Kurl, Laukkanen, Niskanen, Rauramaa, Tuomainen, Sivenius and Salonen25).
CVD deaths were ascertained by computer linkage to the national death registry using the Finnish social security number. All CVD deaths that occurred from the study entry to 31 December 2004 were included. There were no losses to follow-up. CVD deaths were coded according to the ICD-9 (code numbers 390–459) and the ICD-10 (code numbers I00–I99).
In the present study, definite ischaemic strokes and CVD deaths were used as outcome events. If a subject had multiple strokes during the follow-up, the first was considered as the end-point.
Assessment of nutrient intake
The consumption of foods was assessed at the time of blood sampling at the study baseline with an instructed 4 d food recording by household measures. The instructions were given and the completed food records were checked by a nutritionist. The intakes of nutrients were estimated using the Nutrica® version 2.5 software. Under- or over-reporters were not excluded from the analyses. The intakes of nutrients used in the Cox models were energy-adjusted by the residual method(Reference Willet, Stampfer and Willet26). The measurement of total, subclass and individual flavonoid intake was based on the US Department of Agriculture flavonoid database(20). The database includes a total of twenty-six flavonoids from five subclasses: flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, isorhamnetin), flavones (luteolin, apigenin), flavanones (hesperetin, naringenin, eriodictyol), flavan-3-ols ((+)-catechin, (+)-gallocatechin, ( − )-epicatechin, ( − )-epigallocatechin, ( − )-epicatechin-3-gallate, ( − )-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, theaflavin, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3′-gallate, theaflavin-3,3′-digallate, thearubigins) and anthocyanidins (cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonin, peonidin, petunidin).
Statistical analysis
The distributions were expressed as means and standard deviations. The means were compared using ANOVA and categorical variables using χ2 tests. Subjects were classified into quartiles according to their energy-adjusted flavonoid intake and the relationship of flavonoid intake with the risk of CVD was analysed using Cox proportional hazards models. Model 1 was adjusted for age and examination years, and model 2 in addition BMI, systolic blood pressure, hypertension medication, serum HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, serum TAG, maximal oxygen uptake, smoking, family history of CVD, diabetes, alcohol intake, energy-adjusted intake of folate, vitamin E, total fat and saturated fat intake (percentage of energy). Relative risks (RR), adjusted for other risk factors, were estimated as anti-logarithms of coefficients for independent variables. The CI were estimated based on the assumption of asymptotic normality of estimates. All statistical tests were two-tailed. Data were analysed using SPSS for Windows version 11.5 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
Results
The mean flavonoid intake was 139·3 mg/d, and out of the total intake, the flavan-3-ol subclass contributed 85·9 % (119·7 mg/d), flavonols 7·2 % (10·0 mg/d), anthocyanidins 4·5 % (6·2 mg/d), flavonones 2·2 % (3·1 mg/d) and flavones 0·2 % (0·3 mg/d). The mean age of the study population was 52·4 (sd 5·3) years and during the average follow-up time of 15·2 years, men with no previous CHD or stroke experienced 102 ischaemic strokes and 153 CVD deaths. When comparing in quartiles of flavonoid intake, the men with the highest quartile of intake were more likely to be non-smokers, tended to have lowest alcohol, total fat and SFA intakes, and higher intakes of folate, fibre, vitamins C and E, when compared with the lower quartiles (Table 1).
Table 1 Characteristics of the 1950 study subjects according to the energy-adjusted flavonoid intake*
(Mean values and standard deviations)
* For details of procedures, see Material and methods.
† P value from the ANOVA for continuous variables or from χ2 test for discrete variables.
In a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age and examination years, the RR for the intakes of flavonol and flavan-3-ols subclasses were 0·52 (95 % CI 0·30, 0·90) in the highest quartile of flavonol intake v. the lowest, and for flavan-3-ols 0·52 (95 % CI 0·28, 0·99), respectively (Table 2). After multivariate adjustment, the RR for the ischaemic stroke in the highest quartile of flavonol and flavan-3-ol intakes were 0·55 (95 % CI 0·31, 0·99) and 0·59 (95 % CI 0·30, 1·14), respectively. The total intake or the intakes of other subclasses, anthocyanidins, flavanones or flavones, were not associated with the risk of ischaemic stroke.
Table 2 Multivariate-adjusted relative risks (RR) of CVD according to the quartiles of energy-adjusted flavonoid intake*
(Relative risk values and 95 % CI)
* Adjusted for age, examination years, BMI, systolic blood pressure, hypertension medication, serum HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, serum TAG, maximal oxygen uptake, smoking, CVD in family, diabetes, alcohol intake, energy-adjusted intake of folate and vitamin E, total fat (percentage of energy) and saturated fat intake (percentage of energy). For details of procedures, see Material and methods.
After adjustment for age and examination years, total or flavonoid subclasses were not associated with CVD mortality. After multivariate adjustment, the RR for CVD death in the highest quartile of flavanone intake was 0·54 (95 % CI 0·32, 0·92) when compared with the lowest quartile. A non-significant trend was also found for flavones, the RR was 0·65 (95 % CI 0·40, 1·05).
Discussion
The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the most commonly consumed flavonoids and the risk of ischaemic stroke and CVD mortality in a population-based cohort of middle-aged Finnish men. The main finding was that out of five studied flavonoid subclasses, the high intakes of flavonols, and less strongly flavan-3-ols, were associated with decreased risk of ischaemic stroke. The intakes of other flavonoid subclasses, anthocyanidins, flavanones or flavones, were not associated with the risk of ischaemic stroke. The intakes of flavonones and flavones may be associated with decreased risk of CVD mortality. However, the inverse association found for flavanones was not consistent, while for flavones the association was consistent, but not significant. In addition, the intakes of these subclasses were relatively low, 2·2 % for flavanones and 0·2 % for flavones, and therefore it is difficult to verify whether the associations found are true or the result of chance, for example. Further studies are also needed to evaluate whether the possible protective effect is related to some specific type of CVD.
The most relevant new information shown by the present study was that with updated US Department of Agriculture databases we could assess the role of five subclasses, a total of twenty-six flavonoids, instead of one or two subclasses included in most of the previous studies. Most of the previous cohorts have included only flavonols and flavones, and so far only a few have evaluated the role of flavanones(Reference Knekt, Kumpulainen, Jarvinen, Rissanen, Heliovaara, Reunanen, Hakulinen and Aromaa12, Reference Mink, Scrafford, Barraj, Harnack, Hong, Nettleton and Jacobs16), flavan-3-ols(Reference Arts, Jacobs, Harnack, Gross and Folsom10, Reference Arts, Hollman, Feskens, Bueno de Mesquita and Kromhout11, Reference Mink, Scrafford, Barraj, Harnack, Hong, Nettleton and Jacobs16) or anthocyanidins(Reference Mink, Scrafford, Barraj, Harnack, Hong, Nettleton and Jacobs16) in CVD. A recent study assessed the role of a total of seven subclasses and found flavanones, anthocyanidins and flavonoid-rich food to be associated with total, CHD and CVD mortality(Reference Mink, Scrafford, Barraj, Harnack, Hong, Nettleton and Jacobs16).
The present findings, suggesting that intake of flavonoids could be associated with the risk of ischaemic stroke, but not that strongly with the risk of CVD mortality, were surprising. The aetiology of ischaemic stroke and other CVD is considered to be mainly similar and thus flavonoids were expected to be associated with CVD mortality also. One possible explanation could be that atherosclerosis might lead to stroke earlier because of the smaller diameter of the cerebral arterioles.
Seasonal variation is one of the main limitations of the 4 d food recording method and could have an effect on the results. In Finland the intake of fruits and vegetables is highest during the summer and lowest in the winter, and thus the date of the food recording may have biased the flavonoid intake and misclassification of the subjects. This may have attenuated the association between flavonoid intake and the risk of CVD.
The inverse association found for ischaemic stroke was limited to flavonols and less strongly to flavan-3-ols, while the intakes of the other three subclasses were not found to be associated. The lack of association could simply be due to the fact that the intake of these subclasses was very low, 10 % of the total intake, which reduces the statistical power to detect a possible association. On the other hand, individual compounds or subclasses have distinct chemical properties and it is possible that the effects on human health also would differ(Reference Bravo2).
The present results suggesting that flavonoids may decrease the risk of ischaemic stroke, but not that strongly with CVD mortality, differ somewhat from previous findings. Cohort studies have suggested that high intake of flavonoids, and especially flavonols, may decrease the risk of CHD, but probably not the risk of stroke. Half of the published cohort studies have found high intake of flavonoids to be associated with decreased risk of CVD(Reference Geleijnse, Launer, Van der Kuip, Hofman and Witteman3–Reference Rimm, Katan, Ascherio, Stampfer and Willet14, Reference Mink, Scrafford, Barraj, Harnack, Hong, Nettleton and Jacobs16). In a meta-analysis based on the data from seven cohorts, the high intake of flavonols was associated with 20 % reduced CHD mortality(Reference Huxley and Neil15).
Only six cohort studies have, however, evaluated the role of flavonoids in stroke. Two of these studies found the intake of flavonols to be inversely associated with the risk of stroke(Reference Knekt, Kumpulainen, Jarvinen, Rissanen, Heliovaara, Reunanen, Hakulinen and Aromaa12, Reference Keli, Hertog, Feskens and Kromhout17), while four studies did not find any association(Reference Youchum, Kushi, Meyer and Folsom8, Reference Arts, Jacobs, Harnack, Gross and Folsom10, Reference Sesso, Gaziano, Liu and Buring13, Reference Hirvonen, Virtamo, Korhonen, Albanes and Pietinen18). Four of these studies assessed the role of flavonols and flavones(Reference Youchum, Kushi, Meyer and Folsom8, Reference Sesso, Gaziano, Liu and Buring13, Reference Keli, Hertog, Feskens and Kromhout17, Reference Hirvonen, Virtamo, Korhonen, Albanes and Pietinen18), one in addition flavanones(Reference Knekt, Kumpulainen, Jarvinen, Rissanen, Heliovaara, Reunanen, Hakulinen and Aromaa12) and one concentrated on catechins(Reference Arts, Jacobs, Harnack, Gross and Folsom10). In general, the inconsistency in the association between flavonoid intake and stroke may be related to differences in the study population (e.g. age, gender), types of strokes studied or the study setting.
The possible mechanisms by which flavonoids decrease the risk of CVD have most often been suggested to be related, for example, to their vasodilatory or antioxidant properties. Supplementation of flavonoids has been found to improve endothelial function by increasing nitric oxide production in man(Reference Hodgson, Burke and Puddey27, Reference Vlachopoulos, Aznaouridis, Alexopoulos, Economou, Andreadou and Stefanadis28). Flavonoids are strong antioxidants in vitro and in animal studies flavonoids have been found to inhibit oxidative stress as well as the progression of atherosclerosis(Reference Hayek, Furhman, Vaya, Rosenblat, Belinky, Coleman, Elis and Aviram29, Reference Fuhrman, Volkova, Coleman and Aviram30). The studies in man have, however, yielded conflicting results(Reference Williamson and Manach31). Flavonoids have been suggested also to have beneficial effects on blood pressure, platelet function and inflammation.
In the present study the intake of flavonoids was associated with lifestyle; men with higher intakes were more likely to be non-smokers and had lower intakes of alcohol, fat and SFA as well as higher intakes of folate, fibre, vitamin C and E when compared with the men with lower intakes. Therefore, we cannot exclude the possibility that despite extensive adjustment for CVD risk factors, the high intake of flavonoids could be an indicator of healthy lifestyle rather than a protective factor.
Mean flavonoid intake (140 mg) in the present study was much higher than reported previously for the Finnish population (about 10–20 mg)(Reference Knekt, Järvinen, Reunanen and Maatela7, Reference Hirvonen, Pietinen, Virtanen, Häkkinen, Albanes and Virtamo9, Reference Knekt, Kumpulainen, Jarvinen, Rissanen, Heliovaara, Reunanen, Hakulinen and Aromaa12) and this was because the previous calculations have included mainly flavonols and flavones, while the present study also included flavan-3-ols, flavanones and anthocyanidins. In these studies the main sources of flavonols and flavones in the Finnish population have been tea, apples and onions, and citrus fruits for flavanones. One of the limitations of the present study was that we could not study the main sources of flavonoids. However, it is most likely that the main source of flavonols, flavones and flavanones have been the same, while the main source of flavan-3-ols has been tea, and berries for anthocyanidins.
Further studies are still needed to assess the role of flavonoids in CVD, especially in strokes. In addition to flavonoids, other polyphenols such as phenolic acids may also play a role in human health. Phenolic acids are rich in, for example, coffee and cereals, and these compounds contribute significantly to the daily intake of polyphenols. Therefore the databases should be updated concerning other polyphenolic compounds.
In conclusion, the present study suggests that a high intake of flavonoids decreases the risk of ischaemic stroke and possibly CVD mortality. More studies with updated flavonoid databases are needed to evaluate the role of flavonoids in CVD and especially in strokes.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by grants from the Juho Vainio Foundation and Finnish Cultural Foundation, North-Savo Foundation (J. M.). J. T. S. was responsible for the study concept and design. S. V., T. N., T.-P. T., S. K. and J. T. S. collected the data, obtained the funding, and provided administrative, technical or material support. J. M., T. N. and S. V. analysed and interpreted the data, drafted the manuscript and provided statistical expertise. J. M., S. V., T. N., T.-P. T., S. K. and J. T. S. critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. None of the authors had a conflict of interests.
