Dietary Intake of Flavonoids and Ventilatory Function in European Adults: A GA2LEN Study

Abstract

Background: Flavonoids exert anti-inflammatory properties and modulate oxidative stress in vitro, suggesting a protective effect on lung function, but epidemiological studies examining this association are scarce. Methods: A stratified random sample was drawn from the GA2LEN screening survey, in which 55,000 adults aged 15 to 75 answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was obtained from 2850 subjects. Forced vital capacity (FVC), the ratio between the forced exhaled volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FVC (FEV1/FVC), FVC below lower limit of normal (FVC < LLN), and FEV1/FVC < LLN were calculated. Intake of the six main subclasses of flavonoids was estimated using the GA2LEN Food Frequency Questionnaire. Adjusted associations between outcomes and each subclass of flavonoids were examined with multivariate regressions. Simes’ procedure was used to test for multiple comparisons. Results: A total of 2599 subjects had valid lung function and dietary data. A lower prevalence of FVC < LLN (airway restriction) was observed in those with higher total flavonoid (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), higher vs. lowest quintile intake 0.58; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.36, 0.94), and pro-anthocyanidin intakes (aOR 0.47; 95% CI 0.27, 0.81). A higher FEV1/FVC was associated with higher intakes of total flavonoids and pro-anthocyanidins (adjusted correlation coefficient (a β-coeff 0.33; 0.10, 0.57 and a β-coeff 0.44; 95% CI 0.19, 0.69, respectively). After Simes’ procedure, the statistical significance of each of these associations was attenuated but remained below 0.05, with the exception of total flavonoids and airway restriction. Conclusions: This population-based study in European adults provides cross-sectional evidence of a positive association of total flavonoid intake and pro-anthocyanidins and ventilatory function, and a negative association with spirometric restriction in European adults.

Usual dietary anthocyanin intake, sources and their association with blood pressure in a representative sample of Australian adults

“…This is possibly a result of differences in the method of dietary assessments, as well as the use of the MSM to calculate usual daily intake from two repeated 24-h dietary recalls, it could also be as a result of difference/change in population characteristics. Our analysis indicates that the Australian population consumes intermediate quantities of anthocyanins compared to other populations (Table 4), although with quantities similar to estimates from some European countries including Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark (57,58) . A need for tailored databases for nutritional epidemiological studies cannot be overemphasised.…”

Potential Micronutrients and Phytochemicals against the Pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer

“…Anthocyanin intake was found to have a strong protective effect against age-related lung function decline in a longitudinal study among elderly men [ 70 ]. Dietary intake of total flavonoids, catechins, and pro-anthocyanidins was shown to have an inverse relationship with lung function decline in several cross-sectional studies [ 68 , 71 ].…”

Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Foods on Human Health

“…This Special Issue “Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Foods on Human Health” comprises 64 peer-reviewed papers, including 43 original research papers [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ], one case-report [ 51 ] and 20 literature reviews [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ...…”

“…Epidemiological and clinical studies reported the following associations of polyphenols and polyphenol food extracts: silibinin and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [ 9 , 39 ], resveratrol and hepatic encephalopathy [ 33 ], coffee polyphenols and cardiovascular risk factors [ 34 ], flavonoids and ventilator function [ 20 ], tea and stress and sleep quality (depending on caffeine content) [ 46 ], tea and glycemic response [ 44 ], polyphenols and obesity [ 24 ], phenolic acids and hypertension [ 22 ], healthy diet and neurofibromatosis [ 51 ].…”