Posted on 02/28/2025 5:37:41 AM PST by Red Badger
The most extensive study on how dietary polyphenol consumption affects the risk of cardiometabolic issues monitored over 6,000 Brazilians for eight years.
A study of over 6,000 Brazilians—the largest of its kind—found that a diet rich in polyphenol-rich foods such as grapes, strawberries, açaí, oranges, chocolate, wine, and coffee can reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome by up to 23%. The findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition, highlight the protective effects of polyphenols against cardiometabolic disorders.
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of metabolic imbalances and hormonal disruptions that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Polyphenols, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may help counteract these risks.
“This is good news for people who like fruit, chocolate, coffee, and wine, all of which are rich in polyphenols. Although the link between consumption of polyphenols and a reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome had already been identified in previous studies, it had never before been verified in such a large study sample [6,378 people] and over such a long period [eight years]. Our findings in this study leave no room for doubt: promoting diets rich in polyphenols can be a valuable strategy for reducing the risk of cardiometabolic disease and preventing metabolic syndrome,” said Isabela Benseñor, a co-author of the article and a professor at the University of São Paulo’s Medical School (FM-USP) in Brazil.
Study Methodology and Data Sources
The data analyzed in the study was retrieved from ELSA-Brazil, a longitudinal adult health survey that has tracked since 2008 some 15,000 public servants employed by six Brazilian universities and research institutions, with funding from the Ministry of Health and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), an arm of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI). The analysis was conducted at the same university’s School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF-USP) as part of the postdoctoral research of Renata Carnaúba, under the aegis of the Food Research Center (FoRC), one of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (RIDCs) funded by FAPESP.
Out of the 6,378 participants analyzed, 2,031 developed metabolic syndrome. The condition is diagnosed when at least three of the following five risk factors are present:
Abdominal obesity
High blood pressure
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
High triglycerides
High levels of unhealthy lipids (dyslipidemia)
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is rising globally at epidemic proportions. In Brazil, it rose from 29.6% in 2013 to 33% in 2022, according to previously published studies.
“We plan to conduct further research on the role of polyphenols in protection from cardiometabolic disease. What we know so far relates to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of these compounds, as well as a possible positive influence on the gut microbiota,” said Benseñor, who coordinates ELSA-Brazil.
Dietary polyphenol intake
More than 8,000 polyphenols have been identified in nature. The best-known and most studied are phenolic acids (found in coffee and wine), flavonoids (fruit in general, beans, and chocolate), lignans (seeds and oranges), and stilbenes (red grapes and red wine).
Detailed interviews based on questionnaires were conducted to find out about the participants’ dietary habits and the frequency with which they ingested 92 polyphenol-rich foods. The effects of different cooking and processing methods were taken into consideration to ensure accurate measurement of polyphenol intake.
The main conclusion was that consumption of polyphenols from different foods at the highest estimated level (469 mg per day) reduced the risk of developing metabolic syndrome by 23% compared with the lowest polyphenol consumption (177 mg per day). Consumption of phenolic acids (a specific class of polyphenols abundant in coffee, red wine, and tea) reduced the risk by a similar amount.
According to Carnaúba, the quantity of polyphenols associated with a reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome was derived from total dietary intake. “Food variety is important since one of the justifications for the beneficial effects of polyphenol on health is their capacity to modulate the gut microbiota. This process can stimulate the growth of probiotic or ‘good’ bacteria. However, the more diverse a person’s dietary intake and sources of polyphenols, the better the effect on their gut microbiota and hence on their overall health,” she said.
The analysis also showed that elevated consumption of flavan-3-ols, a flavonoid subgroup, was associated with a 20% lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Red wine was the main source of flavan-3-ols for the study sample, accounting for 80% of the total intake of this compound. Chocolate was also a significant source, accounting for 10%.
The researchers also studied the impact of polyphenols on other cardiometabolic disorders linked to metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension, insulin resistance, and elevated triglycerides, for example.
“The results showed that the effects of polyphenols on the metabolism and heart disease were far from negligible. Regardless of the various cardiometabolic risk factors, such as sex, age, smoking, and physical activity, participants who ingested more polyphenols were up to 30 times less likely to develop high blood pressure or insulin resistance, and 17 times less likely to have elevated triglycerides,” Carnaúba said.
Reference:
“Associations Between Polyphenol Intake, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)”
by Renata A Carnauba, Flavia M Sarti, Camille P Coutinho, Neuza MA Hassimotto, Dirce M Marchioni, Paulo A Lotufo, Isabela M Bensenor and Franco M Lajolo, 26 November 2024, The Journal of Nutrition.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.11.016
The study was funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation.
TRIFECTA CHEERS!.....................
Jack LaLanne was wrong? 🤷
He wasn’t a dietician................
Unfortunately, a study design like this really means NOTHING if it find less than doubling of halving the risk. Population studies have so many variables that cannot be accounted for that a good rule of thumb is it needs to show a 2-fold impact before one even has something worth a genuine study!
So as much as I would like to believe this...It’s bogus. Or at least, there is nothing to indicate it is connected to reality.
Chocolate coffee wine coma coming up
Mmmmm.....Chocolate.
That explains why I feel 20 years younger than my true age.
Dark Chocolate and very moderate use of Oregon Pinot.
Plus yoga.
Sounds like a yummy combination!
I’m good, then! :)
Berry and Acai Smoothie Bowl Blend frozen strawberries, acai puree, a banana, and a splash of almond milk. Top with fresh grapes, sliced strawberries, granola, and a sprinkle of dark chocolate shavings.
Dark Chocolate and Orange Energy Bites Mix oats, dark chocolate chips, orange zest, honey, and almond butter. Roll into bite-sized balls and refrigerate.
Coffee and Cocoa Overnight Oats Combine oats, brewed coffee, unsweetened cocoa powder, almond milk, and a touch of maple syrup. Let it sit overnight in the fridge and enjoy in the morning.
Red Wine Poached Pears Simmer pears in red wine with a bit of honey, cinnamon, and orange zest. Serve as a dessert or with Greek yogurt. Strawberry and Grape Salad with Citrus Dressing
Toss fresh strawberries, grapes, and orange segments with a dressing made from orange juice, olive oil, and a touch of honey.
I eat chocolate by the bagfuls. Drink coffee by the gallon. And wine by the box. So I must be pretty darned healthy.
I remember when the "health" industry was doing everything it could to find how bad coffee - and chocolate - was for you.
Turns out my husband's Italian relatives were right about red wine - it thinned the blood, they said. All lived into their 90s.
Think I'll go out and pick my oranges today...
2nd cup of the day. I should be the healthiest human on the planet by next Wednesday!
Its you and me, man! I dont drink wine but makeup for it with coffee and chocolate.
I’m one of those people who get a headache from a single glass of wine, but I drink a few cups of cold brewed coffee every day and I don’t pass up chocolate lol.
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