Assessing the dietary intake of polyphenols and their major food sources is the first step towards documenting the associations with health outcomes. Considering recent changes in dietary patterns of the Brazilian population, continuous monitoring of polyphenol intake is important. Thus, the present study was conducted to estimate the polyphenol intake and major food sources in the diet of the Brazilian population using data from the most recent National Dietary Survey (NDS, 2017–2018), to characterise the intake changes according to demographic characteristics and to compare the intake over the past decade in Brazil. Data from two cross-sectional population-based surveys were analyzed in the study. Trends in polyphenol intake and major food sources were estimated using food consumption data from NDS 2008–2009 (n 34 003) and 2017–2018 (n 46 164). The median (25–75th percentiles) of energy-adjusted polyphenol intake in 2017–2018 was 216·3 mg (125·3–495·2 mg) per 1000 kcal/d (4184 kJ/d), representing an increase of 12·3 mg/d from 2008–2009. However, unadjusted polyphenol intakes were similar between the surveys (medians: 364·3 mg/d in 2008–2009 and 366·9 mg/d in 2017–2018). The main food sources of total and polyphenol intake classes presented some variations between 2008–2009 and 2017–2018, with greater contribution of beans preparations, salads and tea to polyphenol intake, and decrease of orange contribution. Our study provided an updated information on polyphenol intake and its major food sources. The median intake remains lower than the reported by other populations. Furthermore, the results may contribute to future studies investigating temporal trends in polyphenol intake and disease risk.

Fisetin, a polyphenol found in several fruits and vegetables, has shown potential health benefits in many pre-clinical studies for neuroprotection, cardioprotection, chemoprevention, diabetes, inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the clinical effectiveness of fisetin may be limited by its poor bioavailability when ingested. Using a novel green technology of Hybrid-FENUMAT™, a food-grade fisetin formulation (FF-20) was developed through encapsulation of fisetin micelles into fenugreek galactomannan (FG) hydrogel scaffold to improve its physical characteristics and bioavailability. This is the first human pharmacokinetic study of fisetin following a single-dose, comparative, double-blinded, cross-over protocol, supplementing with FF-20 and unformulated fisetin (UF). Fifteen healthy volunteers were given a single dose of 1000 mg UF or 1000 mg FF-20 (delivering 192 mg fisetin) with a 10-d washout period between each dose. Blood samples were taken at 0⋅5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 12 h after both days of supplementation to quantify fisetin and geraldol, an active metabolite. The plasma concentration of fisetin when individuals consumed FF-20 was 26⋅9-fold greater than UF as determined by the area under the curve over 12 h [AUC0–12 h (FF-20) = 341⋅4 v. AUC0–12 h (UF) = 12⋅67]. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was also more than twenty-three times higher when supplemented with FF-20 (238⋅2 ng/ml) compared to UF (9⋅97 ng/ml). The encapsulation also reduced the amount of conversion of fisetin to geraldol. No adverse events were reported during the study. Therefore, the encapsulation of fisetin into FG dietary fibre hydrogel scaffold could improve its delivery and bioavailability in human subjects.

Diabrotica speciosa is an important pest of several crops in South America, including soybeans. Adults cause severe defoliation in soybean plants, and damage is significant when cotyledons are attacked. This study evaluated feeding non-preference to D. speciosa adults using 10 soybean genotypes, testing (i) 15-day-old whole plants and (ii) leaf disks of 60-day-old plants, through assessments of soybean attractiveness and leaf area consumed (LAC). Foliar contents of flavonoids and nutrients, and leaf trichome density were quantified for potential correlations with soybean resistance to adult of D. speciosa. In the whole young-plant experiment, under free-choice conditions, the lowest LAC was observed in IAC 100 and PI 227687. In no-choice, PI 227687 and IGRA RA 626 RR showed lower LAC than the other genotypes. In the leaf disk test, in free-choice, the genotypes IAC 100, PI 274454, PI 227687, DM 339, and BR 16 were the least preferred by adult of D. speciosa. In no-choice, PI 274454 was one of the least preferred, similarly to IGRA RA 626 RR, Dowling, and PI 227687. In the whole plant experiment, a high rutin content and low amounts of zinc, calcium, sulfur and manganese were associated with less consumption of D. speciosa on leaves of resistant genotypes. In contrast, in the leaf disk test there was a significant influence of trichomes in soybean resistance to the pest. In conclusion, the PI lines herein assessed are also promising sources for developing cultivars resistant to D. speciosa.

The low levels of toxicity and cytoprotective effect attributed to Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC, a medicinal plant native to South America, are of interest for bovine mastitis therapy. This research paper reports the hypothesis that a nanoemulsion of macela extract (Achyrocline satureioides) exerts protective effects on bovine mammary alveolar cells -T (MAC-T) and increases the permeation of flavonoid compounds through mammary epithelium. Extract-loaded nanoemulsions (2.5 mg/ml) (NE-ML) (n = 4) were prepared using high-pressure homogenization with varying concentrations of flaxseed oil and Tween 80. Permeation and retention of free and nanoencapsulated quercetin, 3-O-methylquercetin and luteolin were performed on mammary glandular epithelium using Franz diffusion cells. The cell viability was evaluated on mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T lineage) using the MTT method (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) after exposure to loaded and blank nanoemulsions (NE-ML and NE-BL). Necrotic or apoptotic cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry after exposure to nanoemulsions (NE-ML and NE-BL). Subsequently, the cell death was assessed by previously treating MAC-T cells with NE-ML for 23 h, followed by exposure to H2O2 (2 mM) for 1 h. Higher permeation of quercetin and 3-O-methylquercetin in NE-ML was found compared to that of free extract with a final permeated amount of 50.7 ± 3.2 and 111.2 ± 0.6 μg/cm2 compared to 35.0 ± 0.6 and 48.9 ± 1.2, respectively. For NE-BL, the IC50 was at least 1.3% (v/v), while for the NE-ML, it was at least 2.6% (v/v). After exposure to NE-ML (5 and 1.2%, v/v), the percentage of apoptotic cells was reduced (±30%). For the H2O2 assay, the percentage of cells in necrosis was reduced by 40% after exposure to NE-ML1% (v/v) + H2O2 2 mM. The protective effects and increased permeation of macela nanoemulsion make this a promising new candidate for bovine mastitis therapy.

Flavonoids are natural polyphenol secondary metabolites that are widely produced in planta. Flavonoids are ubiquities in human dietary intake and exhibit a myriad of health benefits. Flavonoids-induced biological activities are strongly influenced by their in situ availability in the human GI tract, as well as the levels of which are modulated by interaction with the gut bacteria. As such, assessing flavonoids–microbiome interactions is considered a key to understand their physiological activities. Here, we review the interaction between the various classes of dietary flavonoids (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins) and gut microbiota. We aim to provide a holistic overview of the nature and identity of flavonoids on diet and highlight how flavonoids chemical structure, metabolism and impact on humans and their microbiomes are interconnected. Emphasis is placed on how flavonoids and their biotransformation products affect gut microbiota population, influence gut homoeostasis and induce measurable physiological changes and biological benefits.

Flavonoids have shown anti-hypertensive and anti-atherosclerotic properties: the impact of habitual flavonoid intake on vascular function, central haemodynamics and arterial stiffness may be important. We investigated the relationship between habitual flavonoid consumption and measures of central blood pressure and arterial stiffness. We performed cross-sectional analysis of 381 non-smoking healthy older adults (mean age 66·0 (sd 4·1) years; BMI, 26·4 (sd 4·41) kg/m2; 41 % male) recruited as part of the Australian Research Council Longevity Intervention study. Flavonoid intake (i.e. flavonols, flavones, flavanones, anthocyanins, isoflavones, flavan-3-ol monomers, proanthocyanidins, theaflavins/thearubigins and total consumption) was estimated from FFQ using the US Department of Agriculture food composition databases. Measures of central haemodynamics and arterial stiffness included systolic blood pressure (cSBP), diastolic blood pressure (cDBP), mean arterial pressure (cMAP) and augmentation index (cAIx). After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle confounders, each sd/d higher intake of anthocyanins ((sd 44·3) mg/d) was associated with significantly lower cDBP (−1·56 mmHg, 95 % CI −2·65, −0·48) and cMAP (−1·62 mmHg, 95 % CI −2·82, −0·41). Similarly, each sd/d higher intake of flavanones ((sd 19·5) mg/d) was associated with ~1 % lower cAIx (−0·93 %, 95 % CI −1·77, −0·09). These associations remained significant after additional adjustment for (1) a dietary quality score and (2) other major nutrients that may affect blood pressure or arterial stiffness (i.e. Na, K, Ca, Mg, n-3, total protein and fibre). This study suggests a possible benefit of dietary anthocyanin and flavanone intake on central haemodynamics and arterial stiffness; these findings require corroboration in further research.

Acanthamoeba spp. are widely distributed in the environment and cause serious infections in humans. Treatment of Acanthamoeba infections is very challenging and not always effective which requires the development of more efficient drugs against Acanthamoeba spp. The purpose of the present study was to test medicinal plants that may be useful in the treatment of Acanthamoeba spp. Here we evaluated the trophozoital and cysticidal activity of 13 flavonoid glycosides isolated from Delphinium gracile, D. staphisagria, Consolida oliveriana and from Aconitum napellus subsp. Lusitanicum against the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. AlamarBlue Assay Reagent® was used to determine the activity against trophozoites of A. castellanii, and cytotoxic using Vero cells. Cysticidal activity was assessed on treated cysts by light microscopy using a Neubauer chamber to quantify cysts and trophozoites. Flavonoids 1, 2, 3 and 4 showed higher trophozoital activity and selectivity indexes than the reference drug chlorhexidine digluconate. In addition, flavonoid 2 showed 100% cysticidal activity at a concentration of 50 μm, lower than those of the reference drug and flavonoid 3 (100 μm). These results suggest that flavonoids 2 and 3 might be used for the development of novel therapeutic approaches against Acanthamoeba infections after satisfactory in vivo evaluations.

Although the intake of specific flavonoid-rich foods may reduce C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, the association between dietary flavonoid intakes and CRP is inconsistent. We aim to describe dietary flavonoid intakes in a Taiwanese nationally representative sample and to investigate the association between flavonoid intakes and CRP. We conducted a cross-sectional study based on 2592 adults from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 2005–8. Flavonoid intakes were estimated by linking the 24-h dietary recall with the U.S. Department of Agriculture flavonoid database and divided into quartiles. Adjusted estimates of the flavonoid intakes for the continuous and binary (elevated CRP: >0⋅3 mg/dl) variables were performed by using general linear and logistic regression. We found that tea, orange, tofu and sweet potato leaves/water spinach constituted the major food items of the total flavonoid intake. The total flavonoid intake was lower among women and elderly. Compared with the lowest total flavonoid intake quartile, participants in higher quartiles were associated with a lower CRP status (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0⋅61, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0⋅44–0⋅86 for the highest quartiles). The trends were similar for flavonol and flavan-3-ol intakes. Compared with non-consumers, tea consumers were likely to have a lower CRP status (adjusted OR: 0⋅74, 95 % CI: 0⋅57–0⋅97). In brief, a higher total flavonoid intake and tea consumption were inversely associated with CRP levels, indicating that a high-flavonoid diet may contribute to anti-inflammatory effects. A Taiwanese flavonoid content table is necessary for conducting further studies related to flavonoids in Taiwan.

The aim was to systematically analyse the association of the specific flavonoids, Mg and their interactions from different food sources with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in a cohort study. A total of 6417 participants aged 20 to 74 years from the Harbin Cohort Study on Diet, Nutrition and Chronic Non-communicable Diseases were included. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, forest plot and restricted cubic spline were performed in the study. After a 5·3-year follow-up, 1283 incident cases of the MetS were reported. Those with a higher total flavonoid intake had a lower risk of the MetS (fourth v. first quartile, relative risk (RR) 0·58; 95 % CI 0·37, 0·93; P = 0·024) and central obesity (RR 0·56; 95 % CI 0·33, 0·95; P = 0·032). Further analysis showed that the specific flavonoids quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, luteolin, and flavonoids from fruits, potatoes and legumes had the similar associations with risk of the MetS and central obesity (P < 0·05 for all). A higher intake of total flavonoids, quercetin and luteolin combined with a high level of Mg was more strongly associated with a lower risk of the MetS (RR 0·60; 95 % CI 0·45, 0·81 for total; RR 0·61; 95 % CI 0·45, 0·82 for quercetin; RR 0·52; 95 % CI 0·38, 0·71 for luteolin; all Pfor interaction < 0·01). Dose–response effects showed an L-shaped curve between the total intake of five flavonoids and the risk of the MetS. A higher flavonoid intake is associated with a lower risk of the MetS and central obesity; their combination with Mg helps to strengthen their negative association with the MetS.

Epidemiological studies have suggested an inverse association between polyphenol intake and the risk of chronic diseases. However, the lack of comprehensive data on population-level intakes, especially in Latin American countries, has limited research on this topic. We aimed to estimate total and individual polyphenol intakes and determine the major dietary contributors in a representative sample of the Brazilian population. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey, a cross-sectional survey which included data on individual food intake of 34 003 subjects aged 10 years and over collected using two 24-h dietary records. Polyphenol content of foods was identified using the Phenol-Explorer database and Brazilian Food Composition Database. Total and individual polyphenol intake was calculated, as well as the intake distribution by socio-demographic factors. The median and 25–75th percentiles of polyphenol intake were 364·3 and 200·9–1008 mg/d, respectively. After energy adjustment, the median and 25–75th percentiles of polyphenol intake were 204 and 111·4–542·1 mg/1000 kcal/d (4184 kJ/d), respectively. Non-alcoholic beverages and fruits were the major polyphenol suppliers, and coffee and orange juice the main individual food contributors to polyphenol intake. The individual compounds most consumed were isomers of chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid), naringenin and hesperetin. The present study provides, for the first time, data on dietary intake of total and individual polyphenols by the Brazilian population and illustrates the low quality of their diet. These results will facilitate the study of associations between polyphenol class intake and health outcomes, and will also be useful for future dietary intake recommendations.

Flavonoid-rich foods have shown a beneficial effect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in short-term randomised trials. It is uncertain whether the usual dietary intake of flavonoids may benefit patients with NAFLD. The present study evaluated the association between the usual intake of flavonoids and the risk of progression in NAFLD. The prospective study included 2694 adults from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study. Face-to-face interviews using a seventy-nine-item FFQ were administered to assess habitual dietary flavonoid intake, while abdominal ultrasonography was conducted to evaluate the presence and degree of NAFLD, with measurements conducted 3 years apart. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher flavonoid intakes were gradely associated with reduced risks of worsen NAFLD status. The relative risks of worsening (v. non-worsening) NAFLD in the highest (v. lowest) quintile were 0·71 (95 % CI 0·54, 0·93) for total flavonoids, 0·74 (95 % CI 0·57, 0·95) for flavanones, 0·74 (95 % CI 0·56, 0·96) for flavan-3-ols, 0·90 (95 % CI 0·68, 1·18) for flavonols, 0·73 (95 % CI 0·56, 0·93) for flavones, 0·79 (95 % CI 0·61, 1·02) for isoflavones and 0·74 (95 % CI 0·57, 0·96) for anthocyanins. An L-shaped relationship was observed between total flavonoid intake and the risk of NAFLD progression. Path analyses showed that the association between flavonoids and NAFLD progression was mediated by decreases in serum cholesterol and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. This prospective study showed that higher flavonoid intake was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD progression in the elderly overweight/obese Chinese population.

Anthocyanins and bromelain have gained significant attention due to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Both have been shown to improve endothelial function, blood pressure (BP) and oxygen utility capacity in humans; however, the combination of these two and the impacts on endothelial function, BP, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and oxygen utility capacity have not been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of a combined anthocyanins and bromelain supplement (BE) on endothelial function, BP, TAC, oxygen utility capacity and fatigability in healthy adults. Healthy adults (n 18, age 24 (sd 4) years) received BE or placebo in a randomised crossover design. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), BP, TAC, resting heart rate, oxygen utility capacity and fatigability were measured pre- and post-BE and placebo intake. The BE group showed significantly increased FMD, reduced systolic BP and improved oxygen utility capacity compared with the placebo group (P < 0·05). Tissue saturation and oxygenated Hb significantly increased following BE intake, while deoxygenated Hb significantly decreased (P < 0·05) during exercise. Additionally, TAC was significantly increased following BE intake (P < 0·05). There were no significant differences for resting heart rate, diastolic BP or fatigability index. These results suggest that BE intake is an effective nutritional therapy for improving endothelial function, BP, TAC and oxygen utility capacity, which may be beneficial to support vascular health in humans.

Although the association between fruit consumption and CHD risk has been well studied, few studies have focused on flavonoid-rich fruits (FRF), in particular strawberries and grapes. We aimed to verify the association of total and specific FRF consumption with risk of CHD by a large prospective cohort study. A total of 87 177 men and women aged 44–75 years who were free of CVD and cancer at study baseline were eligible for the present analysis. FRF consumption was assessed using a FFQ. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) of CHD in relation to FRF consumption with adjustment for potential risk factors and confounders. During a mean follow-up of 13·2 years, we identified 1156 incident CHD cases. After full adjustment for covariates including demographics, lifestyles and dietary factors, the HR were 0·93 (95 % CI 0·77, 1·11), 0·91 (95 % CI 0·75, 1·11), 0·84 (95 % CI 0·67, 1·04) and 0·78 (95 % CI 0·62, 0·99) for the second, third, fourth and fifth quintiles compared with the lowest quintile of FRF consumption. Regarding specific fruits, we observed a significant inverse association for citrus fruit consumption and a borderline inverse association for strawberry consumption, while no association was observed for apple/pear or grape consumption. Although the associations appeared to be stronger in women, they were not significantly modified by sex. Higher consumption of FRF, in particular, citrus fruits, may be associated with a lower risk of developing CHD.

Flavonoids are suggested to reduce disease risk. Since dietary habits are acquired during early life, describing age and time trends of flavonoid intake and major food sources are important for monitoring and disease prevention in later life. We aimed to describe total flavonoid intake and food sources and to investigate age and time trends of flavonoid intake in 3–18-year-olds, from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed study from 1985 to 2016. Intake was assessed annually using 3-d weighed food records (WFR). Flavonoid values were assigned using the United States Department of Agriculture database. Foods contributing to intake were determined. Age and time trends in total flavonoid and isoflavone density were analysed by sex with PROC MIXED. In total, 1312 children completed 10 758 WFR. Across all ages, daily mean total flavonoid density was lower in boys compared with girls (134 v. 146 mg/4184 kJ) and no difference in median isoflavone density (0·04 mg/4184 kJ per d) was found. The top five foods contributing to total flavonoid intake were apple with peel (15·0/17·1 %), strawberries (5·9/6·1 %), chocolate spread (3·9/3·5 %), orange juice (3·5/3·4 %) and pasta (3·5/3·4 %) for boys and girls, respectively. Overall, in boys, total flavonoid density decreased over the course of age and time. In girls, there was no association with age or time. In both sexes, isoflavone density followed a U-shaped age trend with no change over time. From a public health perspective, the overall observed downwards trend of flavonoid intake in boys deserves attention. Future initiatives should be tailored at maintaining a high flavonoid density as children age, specifically among boys.

We conducted a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) to examine the effects of strawberry interventions on cardiovascular risk factors. We searched multiple databases including PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus to identify eligible studies published before 19 May 2019. The endpoints were blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TAG, fasting blood glucose, endothelial function and inflammatory factors. Pooled analyses were performed using random- or fixed-effects models according to a heterogeneity test. We also conducted sub-group analyses by baseline endpoint levels. We included eleven RCT in this meta-analysis (six for blood pressure, seven for lipid profile, seven for fasting blood glucose and six for C-reactive protein (CRP)). Overall, the strawberry interventions significantly reduced CRP levels by 0·63 (95 % CI −1·04, −0·22) mg/l but did not affect blood pressure, lipid profile or fasting blood glucose in the main analyses. Our analysis stratified by baseline endpoint levels showed the strawberry interventions significantly reduced TC among people with baseline levels >5 mmol/l (−0·52 (95 % CI −0·88, −0·15) mmol/l) and reduced LDL-cholesterol among people with baseline levels >3 mmol/l (−0·31 (95 % CI −0·60, −0·02) mmol/l). There was little evidence of heterogeneity in the analysis and no evidence of publication bias. In summary, strawberry interventions significantly reduced CRP levels and may improve TC and LDL-cholesterol in individuals with high baseline levels.

Adolescence is an important period for cognitive maturation and emotional regulation, and this age group is particularly vulnerable to developing depression. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been associated with decreased risk of developing depressive disorders across the lifespan, maybe due to the high flavonoid content of these foods. Previously, we have shown increases in transient positive affect (PA) in both children and young adults 2 h after administration of a wild blueberry (WBB) intervention. Here, using a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated the effects of 4 weeks, daily WBB supplementation (containing about 253 mg anthocyanins) on transient and chronic mood in adolescents. Healthy 12–17-year old (n 64, thirty-five females) participants were randomly assigned to receive either a WBB or matched placebo supplementation. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention period using the Mood and Feeling Questionnaire and Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Transient affect was assessed before, 2 weeks and at 4 weeks using PA and negative affect. Following the intervention period, there were significantly fewer self-reported depression symptoms in participants who were supplemented with WBB compared with placebo (P = 0·02, 95 % CI –6·71, –5·35). There was no between-group effect on anxiety symptoms or on transient affect. Further investigation is required to identify specific mechanisms that link flavonoids consumption and mood. If replicated, the observed effects of WBB supplementation may be a potential prevention strategy for adolescent depression and may have benefits for public mental health.

The study of polyphenols’ effects on health has been gaining attention lately. In addition to reacting with important enzymes, altering the cell metabolism, these substances can present either positive or negative metabolic alterations depending on their consumption levels. Naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, already presents diverse metabolic effects. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of maternal naringenin supplementation during pregnancy on the tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in offspring’s cerebellum. Adult female Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) vehicle (1 ml/kg by oral administration (p.o.)) or (2) naringenin (50 mg/kg p.o.). The offspring were euthanised at 7th day of life, and the cerebellum was dissected to analyse citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities. Molecular docking used SwissDock web server and FORECASTER Suite, and the proposed binding pose image was created on UCSF Chimera. Data were analysed by Student’s t test. Naringenin supplementation during pregnancy significantly inhibited IDH, α-KGDH and MDH activities in offspring’s cerebellum. A similar reduction was observed in vitro, using purified α-KGDH and MDH, subjected to pre-incubation with naringenin. Docking simulations demonstrated that naringenin possibly interacts with dehydrogenases in the substrate and cofactor binding sites, inhibiting their function. Naringenin administration during pregnancy may affect cerebellar development and must be evaluated with caution by pregnant women and their physicians.