Intake estimation of total and individual flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins and theaflavins, their food sources and determinants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study

Br J Nutr. 2012 Sep 28;108(6):1095-108. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511006386. Epub 2011 Dec 20.

Abstract

Epidemiological studies suggest health-protective effects of flavan-3-ols and their derived compounds on chronic diseases. The present study aimed to estimate dietary flavan-3-ol, proanthocyanidin (PA) and theaflavin intakes, their food sources and potential determinants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) calibration cohort. Dietary data were collected using a standardised 24 h dietary recall software administered to 36 037 subjects aged 35-74 years. Dietary data were linked with a flavanoid food composition database compiled from the latest US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases and expanded to include recipes, estimations and retention factors. Total flavan-3-ol intake was the highest in UK Health-conscious men (453·6 mg/d) and women of UK General population (377·6 mg/d), while the intake was the lowest in Greece (men: 160·5 mg/d; women: 124·8 mg/d). Monomer intake was the highest in UK General population (men: 213·5 mg/d; women: 178·6 mg/d) and the lowest in Greece (men: 26·6 mg/d in men; women: 20·7 mg/d). Theaflavin intake was the highest in UK General population (men: 29·3 mg/d; women: 25·3 mg/d) and close to zero in Greece and Spain. PA intake was the highest in Asturias (men: 455·2 mg/d) and San Sebastian (women: 253 mg/d), while being the lowest in Greece (men: 134·6 mg/d; women: 101·0 mg/d). Except for the UK, non-citrus fruits (apples/pears) were the highest contributors to the total flavan-3-ol intake. Tea was the main contributor of total flavan-3-ols in the UK. Flavan-3-ol, PA and theaflavin intakes were significantly different among all assessed groups. This study showed heterogeneity in flavan-3-ol, PA and theaflavin intake throughout the EPIC countries.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biflavonoids / administration & dosage*
  • Biflavonoids / analysis
  • Catechin / administration & dosage*
  • Catechin / analysis
  • Cohort Studies
  • Databases, Factual
  • Diet / adverse effects*
  • Diet / ethnology
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Flavonols / administration & dosage*
  • Flavonols / analysis
  • Food Analysis*
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Proanthocyanidins / administration & dosage*
  • Proanthocyanidins / analysis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Tea / chemistry

Substances

  • Biflavonoids
  • Flavonoids
  • Flavonols
  • Proanthocyanidins
  • Tea
  • theaflavin
  • flavan-3-ol
  • Catechin