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  • Original Article
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Flavonoid and lignan intake in a Mediterranean population: proposal for a holistic approach in polyphenol dietary analysis, the Moli-sani Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 338–345 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The objective of this study is to extract and assess data on the dietary intake of flavonoids and lignans in a healthy free-living Mediterranean population, using newly updated harmonized European Union food composition data. This work also aimed at analyzing in a holistic way the total content of the diet in major classes of polyphenols.

Subjects/Methods:

Six thousand nine hundred and eighty-one men and 7048 women (aged ⩾35years) of the Moli-sani cohort, randomly recruited from the general population, were analyzed. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) and Nutrition-Food Frequency Questionnaire was used for dietary assessment. The polyphenol content of each food group was evaluated using Eurofir BioActive Substances in Food Information System and the United States Department of Agriculture food composition tables (FCTs), when data were missing. Flavonol, flavone, flavanone, flavanol, anthocyanin, isoflavone and lignan intakes were calculated and polyphenol antioxidant content (PAC) score (−28, 28) constructed, to assess the total content of the diet in these nutrients.

Results:

Seasonal and citrus fruits, leafy, grain, pod and root vegetables, and onions and garlic accounted for different proportions (11–70%) of the total intake of different polyphenols. Within the Moli-sani population, men or older, or no/former smokers, or physically active or obese/overweight individuals presented higher consumption of flavonoids, lignans and PAC score (P for all <0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that PAC score and its seven components were positively associated with Mediterranean diet (MeD) adherence in both genders (β-coefficient >0, P<0.001). In addition, 1 unit increase in PAC score was associated with 7.1–7.8% increase in the likelihood of high MeD adherence (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

The intake of flavonoids and lignans in an European Union population was calculated using harmonized European Union FCT data. In addition, a holistic approach in dietary analysis of polyphenol intake was proposed.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Associazione Cuore-Sano (Campobasso, Italy), IL Instrumentation-Laboratory (Milano, Italy), Derby-Blue (San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna, Italy), Caffè Monforte (Campobasso, Italy) and Sepinia SpaA (Sepino, Italy) for their support to the MOLI-SANI project. This work was partially supported by the 7th Framework Programme ATHENA, contract no. 245121, from the European Commission.

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Author notes

  1. G Pounis, A Di Castelnuovo, M Bonaccio, S Costanzo, M Persichillo, V Krogh, M B Donati, G de Gaetano and L Iacoviello: Members of the Moli-sani Investigators are listed in Supplementary Material.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemioloy, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy

    G Pounis, A Di Castelnuovo, M Bonaccio, S Costanzo, M Persichillo, M B Donati, G de Gaetano & L Iacoviello

  2. Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy

    V Krogh

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  1. G Pounis
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Correspondence to L Iacoviello.

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Pounis, G., Di Castelnuovo, A., Bonaccio, M. et al. Flavonoid and lignan intake in a Mediterranean population: proposal for a holistic approach in polyphenol dietary analysis, the Moli-sani Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 338–345 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.178

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