Background: In much epidemiological research, a positive impact of flavonoid intake on human health has been observed. The role of flavonoids in heart diseases and cancer prevention was described.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess dietary flavonoid intake among 50-year-old inhabitants of Wroclaw in 2008.
Material and methods: The study group included 1520 inhabitants of Wroclaw (879 women, 641 men) who participated in the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program in 2008, which was organized by the Health Division of the Municipal Office in Wroclaw. The mean age of the women was 49.9 +/- 0.3 year old and of the men 50.0 +/- 0.2. To assess dietary flavonoid intake, the consumption of fruits, vegetables, tea, wine and chocolate was evaluated. To assess daily food intake, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used. The dietary flavonoid intake was evaluated using the database from 2007 "U.S. Department of Agriculture Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods, Release 2.1".
Results: The flavonoid intake from fruits and vegetables in women amounted respectively to 13.64 mg/day and 8.59 mg/day. The flavonoid intake from these products in men was respectively 9.56 mg/day and 6.54 mg/day. Fruits and vegetables provided respectively 2.2%, 1.4% of daily flavonoid intake in women and respectively 1.6%, 1.1% in men. The flavonoid intake provided by fruit juices amounted to 4.57 mg/day in women and 4.97 mg/day in men. Chocolate, in both women and men, was a source of 0.80 mg/day of total flavonoids. Fruit juices and chocolate provided respectively 0.7% and 0.1% of daily flavonoid intake in women and respectively 0.8% and 0.1% in men. Tea provided, in both women and men, 595 mg/day of total flavonoids (respectively 95.6% and 96.5% of daily total flavonoid intake). Total daily flavonoid intake in the investigated group amounted to 622.60 mg in women and 616.87 mg in men.
Conclusions: This study assessed a higher dietary flavonoid intake in the investigated group in comparison with other studies results. The major source of these compounds, especially flavan-3-ols, was tea consumption. The authors concluded that increased fruit and vegetable consumption in the investigated group would increase anthocyanidin, flavanone and flavonol intake.