Themed collection International Conference on Polyphenols and Health (ICPH2019) collection

Kevin Croft and Cesar Fraga introduce the Food & Function themed collection for the International Conference on Polyphenols and Health (ICPH2019).

Black soybean (Glycine max L.), a cultivar containing abundant polyphenols in its seed coat such as anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols, has been reported to possess various health benefits toward lifestyle diseases.

Higher intakes of flavonoid-rich foods are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in prospective cohort studies.

This systematic review assesses the evidence for the effects of edible cacti (dragon fruit and cactus pear) on vascular and endothelial function based on animal models and human studies.

Relationship between “stressors” and “stress responses”, such as hormone secretion. Some polyphenols can prevent stress responses, which subsequently prevent stress-related health problems.

Coffee chlorogenic acids do not affect carbohydrate digestion directly, but modulate glucose absorption/utilisation, the latter through endogenous/gut microbiota metabolites.

Flavanone metabolites decreased the oxidative biomarkers and this effect might be associated with the anti-apoptotic and antioxidant properties of these compounds as well their ability to prevent mitochondrial and insulin secretion dysfunction.

Apples, an important contributor to total dietary phenolic intake, are associated with cardiovascular health benefits.

Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens and Ellagibacter isourolithinifaciens are two human gut bacterial species that convert ellagic acid into urolithins. They also convert phenolics by that remove hydroxyls from catechol groups and reduce double bonds by hydrogenation.

Tropical foods are an integral part of the traditional diet and form part of traditional medicine in many countries.

Carob is the fruit obtained from Ceratonia siliqua L. and it is a source of bioactive compounds that have been linked to several health promoting effects, including lowering blood cholesterol concentration.

Dietary (−)-epicatechin supplementation leads to the attenuation of the expansion and whitening of thoracic aorta perivascular adipose tissue, affording a crucial strategy to maintain a healthy vasculature.

Mechanisms to slow down starch digestion – tea polyphenols interact with α-amylase and starch during co-digestion of tea extract and bread.

Food matrix interactions with polyphenols can affect their bioavailability and as a consequence may modulate their biological effects.

Flavanol intake positively influences cardiometabolic health in humans – evidence from in vitro nutrigenomic studies.

(−)-Epicatechin improves memory in high fat diet-induced obese mice in association with prevention of endotoxemia and mitigation of neuroinflammation.

Cranberries are a rich source of poly(phenols), mainly monomeric and oligomeric flavan-3-ols. The metabolism of their main colonic compounds has been assessed.

This study explored plasma levels and urinary and fecal excretion of metabolites and microbial-derived catabolites over a 24 h period following the ingestion of red wine (RWP) or grape seed (GSP) proanthocyanidin-rich extracts by rats.

Liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection for accurate and precise determination of cocoa flavanol monomers and procyanidins in cocoa-based products.

(−)-Epicatechin mitigates NO-mediated impairment of kidney function due to its capacity to modulate NOXs, NOSs, and consequently oxidative stress, and NO bioavailability in the renal cortex of L-NAME treated rats.

This systematic review with meta-analysis provides evidence that cocoa flavanols could significantly improve endothelial function, with an optimal effect observed with 710 mg total flavanols, 95 mg (−)-epicatechin or 25 mg (+)-catechin.