Dietary Flavanols Reduce the Risk of Frailty in Old Age

Diets rich in flavanols like berries, walnuts, grapes, broccoli, etc. can protect the elderly from the risk of frailty. Read more to find out the benefits of flavanols.

Highlights:

Flavanol, a natural plant product in the diet, is significantly linked to the reduced risk of frailty in old age
Certain kinds of flavanols, like myrcetin, in berries, grapes, and walnuts are linked to improved physical and mental health outcomes in old age
People who consumed the highest amounts of flavanols had a 47% lower frailty risk compared to people who consumed the lowest amounts of dietary flavanols

Flavonols, a type of natural plant compound, have been under investigation for their potential health benefits. Recently, a new study has found that individuals who consume a higher amount of flavonols have a lower risk of frailty onset in adulthood (). Frailty is a common condition among older adults, characterized by a loss of physical and mental resilience, that can lead to falls, hospitalization, disability, and mortality.

Higher the Consumption of Flavonol, Lower the Risk of Fraility

The study was published in the Journal of Nutrition and analyzed data from 1,140 participants who were aged 65 years or older, enrolled in the InCHIANTI study. The study assessed the dietary intake of flavonols among the participants through a food frequency questionnaire. The researchers then followed up with the participants for a period of 12 years to determine the risk of frailty onset ().

The results showed that those individuals who consumed higher amounts of flavonols had a lower risk of frailty onset. The participants who consumed the highest amount of flavonols had a 47% lower risk of frailty compared to those who consumed the lowest amount (). The study adjusted for potential confounding factors such as age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and total energy intake to ensure the association remained significant.

Myricetin in Berries is the Most Helpful of all

The study also found that certain types of flavonols had a stronger association with a lower risk of frailty than others (). Myricetin, a flavonol found in berries, grapes, and walnuts, was the most strongly associated with a lower risk of frailty. Other flavonols such as kaempferol, found in tea, kale, and broccoli, and isorhamnetin, found in onions and tomatoes, also showed significant associations with frailty risk.

Cocoa Flavanols Found in Chocolates Lowers Blood Pressure, Maintains Heart Health
Dietary intake of flavanols has been shown to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health but these compounds are often destroyed during normal food processing.

‘Adequate amounts and the right kinds of dietary flavanols from walnuts, onions , tomatoes, tea, kale, and broccoli can increase physical and mental resilience in your old age.’

The study's findings are observational and cannot prove causality, but they suggest that a higher intake of flavonols may help prevent or delay the onset of frailty in older adults (). The mechanisms by which flavonols may exert their beneficial effects on frailty are not fully understood, but antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects have been proposed (,).

While the study has some limitations, such as the reliance on self-reported dietary intake and a study population limited to older Italian adults, it adds to the growing evidence of the potential health benefits of flavonols (,). The study highlights the importance of a healthy and balanced diet to promote healthy aging. Future research is required to confirm the findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action of flavonols on frailty and other age-related conditions (,,).

References :

Higher intake of flavonols linked to lower risk of frailty onset in adults - (https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230417/Higher-intake-of-flavonols-linked-to-lower-risk-of-frailty-onset-in-adults.aspx)
Poor adherence to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medications in primary care: Role of age, disease burden and polypharmacy - (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ggi.13115)
Governmental policies to reduce unhealthy food marketing to children - (https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/77/11/787/5536919)
Dietary flavonoids as potential neuroprotectants - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12033439/)

Cocoa Flavanols Can Be Preserved While Baking A Cake!
The Hershey Company and Brunswick Laboratories (Norton, MA) scientists have shown that it is possible to preserve almost 85 percent of cocoa flavanols while baking a cake.

Source-Medindia

Human Health Benefits Evaluated in Research on Flavanols and Procyanidins
New insights into the distinct roles of flavanols and procyanidins in the human body have been provided by collaborative research by Mars, Incorporated and the University of California, Davis.

High Flavanol Diet Lowers Blood Pressure: Here's How
Flavanol-rich foods and drinks such as tea, apples and berries, can help lower your blood pressure levels. Increasing flavanol intake can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.