Expert opinion
What Vitamins Can and Cannot Do
1 May 2009
“Every micronutrient unfolds a specific effect in the human organism. These effects are complex, sometimes dose-dependent and can vary from one type of tissue or organ to another;
08 November 2013
According to a new study from Italy, a diet rich in polyphenols – found largely in fruits and vegetables – can decrease the long term risk of mortality by 30%.
In the observational study, the polyphenol intakes of 807 men and women aged 65 or over were analyzed by means of a nutritional biomarker – the total urinary polyphenol (TUP) concentration – and death cases were documented during 12 years (1). The study results showed that overall mortality was reduced by 30% in participants who had rich-polyphenol diets (more than 650 mg/day) in comparison with the participants who had low-polyphenol diets (less than 500 mg/day).
The researchers commented that these observations corroborate scientific findings suggesting that people consuming diets rich in fruit and vegetables are at lower risk of several chronic diseases and overall mor- tality. Moreover, the research stresses the importance of evaluating – if possible – food intake by using nutri- tional biomarkers, and not only by answering food frequency questionnaires, which are prone to bias as they are based on participants’ memory. The use of nutritional biomarkers takes into account bioavailability and individual differences, and allows a more reliable and accurate evaluation of the association between food intake and mortality or disease risk.
More than 8,000 different phenolic compounds have been identified in plant food sources, such as fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, nuts, legumes and cereals. In in-vitro studies, polyphenols have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and other potential health-promoting properties. The health effects of polyphenols depend on their quantity consumed and bioavailability, which varies greatly from one molecule to another (2) and among individuals (3).
1 May 2009
“Every micronutrient unfolds a specific effect in the human organism. These effects are complex, sometimes dose-dependent and can vary from one type of tissue or organ to another;
12 October 2011
A new US study speculates that the frequent use of vitamin C and vitamin E in the period after breast cancer diagnosis may be associated with a decreased likelihood of recurrence, whereas frequent use of a combination of carotenoids may be associated with increased mortality. Experts warn against jumping to conclusions.
22 August 2014
A new study from Iran suggests that inhaled corticosteroids in combination with vitamin D supplementation could improve airway functions in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma.