Advances in Nutrition's
dietary recommendations "may help improve blood pressure, cholesterol
levels, and blood sugar"
Hypertension, dyslipidemia,
insulin resistance, and abdominal adiposity are all symptoms of cardiometabolic
disease, which also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
disease. The most common cause of death worldwide is cardiovascular disease,
according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2019, cardiovascular
disease was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 17.9 million people, or
32% of all deaths worldwide. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO)
notes that "the number of people with diabetes rose from 108 million in
1980 to 422 million in 2014," with a more rapid increase in low-income and
middle-income nations.
A healthy diet has been shown
to lower the risk of cardiometabolic disease, according to research. In
addition, a growing body of research suggests that certain bioactives-individual
food components in addition to those required for basic human nutrition-may
also play a significant role in lowering the risk of cardiometabolic disease.
Flavan-3-ols, which are the
subclass of flavonoids that are consumed the most, are one of these
health-promoting bioactives. Flavan-3-ols are frequently found in chocolate,
cocoa products, apples, pears, berries, and tea.
The Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics established an Expert Panel to develop a flavan-3-ols intake recommendation
that maximizes cardiometabolic outcomes in recognition of flavan-3-ols'
potential to lower the risk of cardiometabolic disease. There were six people
on the Panel. The standard criteria that were used to evaluate each candidate
included prior experience in the field as well as potential conflicts of
interest. The candidates with the highest scores were chosen for the Expert
Panel, with the candidate with the highest score serving as Chair. Flavan-3-ols
and Cardiometabolic Health: The Panel's Recommended Intakes The first-ever
Dietary Bioactive Guideline was published in Advances in Nutrition, the
American Society for Nutrition's international review journal.
The Panel looked at the
results of 14 cohort studies and 159 randomized controlled trials that were
published between 1949 and March 2019 in order to make their recommendations.
Subjects aged 19 or older were used in all of the studies. In addition, all of
the studies that the Panel looked at had already been looked at in a recent
systematic review and meta-analysis.
"Increasing consumption
of nutrient-dense foods rich in flavan-3-ols and low (or absent) in added sugars,
including but not limited to tea, apples, berries, and cocoa," the Panel
recommended among the general adult population. “Moderate evidence supporting
cardiometabolic protection resulting from flavan-3-ol intake in the range of 404-605
mg/day was supported by the literature,” according to the Panel's findings.
"Consumption of dietary flavan-3-ols may help improve blood pressure, cholesterol
levels, and blood sugar," they assert as a whole. The Panel stated that
"the beneficial effects were observed across a range of disease biomarkers
and endpoints."
The Panel did warn that “this
is a food-based guideline and not a recommendation for flavan-3-ol
supplements,” which can harm the liver or irritate the gastrointestinal tract
if taken in large quantities or on an empty stomach.
In general, the Panel cited a
growing body of research indicating that consuming more flavan-3-ols may lower
the risk of certain cardiometabolic diseases and the mortality that is
associated with them. However, the Panel did point out that their
recommendation was derived from studies of the general adult population: As
dietary practices adopted earlier in life may contribute to the magnitude of
flavan-3-ols' effect on cardiometabolic health, additional research evaluating
flavan-3-ol intake earlier in life is warranted.
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