Total Polyphenol Intake Is Inversely Associated with a Pro/Anti-Inflammatory Biomarker Ratio in European Adolescents of the HELENA Study

Abstract

Background Although high dietary polyphenol intake is negatively associated with risk of certain inflammation-associated chronic diseases, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood and few studies have explored this in adolescents. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between intakes of total polyphenols, polyphenol classes, and the 10 most commonly consumed individual polyphenols with inflammatory biomarkers in the blood of European adolescents. Methods In the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) Study, 526 adolescents (54% girls; 12.5–17.5 y) had data on inflammatory biomarkers and polyphenol intake from 2 nonconsecutive 24-h recalls via matching with the Phenol-Explorer database. Inflammatory biomarkers in serum were IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), TNF-α, IFN-γ, soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), white blood cells, lymphocytes, T cells, and C-reactive protein. Multilevel linear models were used to test associations of polyphenol intake with a pro/anti-inflammatory biomarker ratio [(zTNF-α + zIL-6 + zIL-1)/3/zIL-10] as well as with separate inflammatory biomarkers, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, diet inflammation index, BMI z score, and serum triglycerides. Results The pro/anti-inflammatory biomarker ratio was linearly inversely associated with the intake of total polyphenols (β = −0.11, P = 0.040). When other inflammation biomarkers were considered, the serum IL-10 concentration was inversely associated with total polyphenol (β = −0.12, P = 0.017) and flavonoid (β = −0.12, P = 0.013) intakes, findings that were inconsistent with the biomarker ratio results. However, the anti-inflammatory capacity of polyphenols was confirmed by positive associations of IL-4 with phenolic acid (β = 0.09 P = 0.049) and stilbene (β = 0.13, P = 0.019) intakes and the negative association of IL-1, IL-2, and IFN-γ with lignan intake (β = −0.10, P = 0.034; β = −0.09, P = 0.049; β = −0.11, P = 0.023). Conclusions The negative relation with the overall pro/anti-inflammatory biomarker ratio suggests a potential anti-inflammatory role of high polyphenol intakes among European adolescents. Nevertheless, associations are dependent on polyphenol type and the inflammatory biomarker measured.

Diet, Sleep, and Mental Health: Insights from the UK Biobank Study

“…It is well known that both healthy/high-quality/Mediterranean-style diets and food groups that are abundant in such diets, specifically vegetables and fruits, apart from vitamins and minerals, contain substantial amounts of fibre and polyphenols, which are known to have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and prebiotic properties [ 61 , 62 ] and also are associated with reduced systemic inflammation markers [ 63 , 64 , 65 ]. On the other hand, unhealthy dietary patterns and food groups (such as processed meats) are rich in saturated- and trans-fatty acids, which are known to be associated with alterations in the gut microbiota that could lead to an increased circulation of inflammatory markers [ 32 , 66 ].…”

Overview of Polyamines as Nutrients for Human Healthy Long Life and Effect of Increased Polyamine Intake on DNA Methylation

“…Very interestingly, polyphenols and antioxidant vitamins, which are abundant in legumes such as soybeans and in the Mediterranean diet, also have the same bioactivity as polyamines. For example, they have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [ 17 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], and they protect cells and genes from harmful stimuli [ 18 , 23 ] and activate autophagy [ 17 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. These biological activities were considered to inhibit the development of age-related pathologies.…”

“…References for A circled: [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], References for B circled: [ 49 , 121 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 ], References for “?”: [ 22 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 …”

“…The molecules have many biological activities that counteract the pathogenesis of aging-associated pathologies. For example, they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], protect cells and genes from harmful stimuli [ 18 , 23 ], increase sirtuin expression, and induce autophagy [ 17 , 18 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Early animal experiments and research performed under specific conditions or in a particular animal demonstrated that the increased intake of polyphenols extended lifespans [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Examining the role of systemic chronic inflammation in diet and sleep relationship

“…MED-style/healthy diets and food groups that are abundant in these diets (such as fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and seafood) are known to contain significant amounts of fibre, polyphenols and omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids. These nutrients have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and prebiotic properties ( González et al, 2011 ; Widmer et al, 2015 ) and also are associated with reduced systemic inflammation markers, such as the C-reactive protein (CRP) ( Ma et al., 2008 ; Sureda et al., 2018 ; Wisnuwardani et al, 2020 ). Additionally, systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) biomarkers were also found to be associated with diet.…”