Polyphenols and Human Health: A Prospectus

Abstract

The lay press often heralds polyphenols as panacea for all sorts of diseases. The rationale is that their antioxidant activity would prevent free radical damage to macromolecules. However, basic and clinical science is showing that the reality is much more complex than this and that several issues, notably content in foodstuff, bioavailability, or in vivo antioxidant activity are yet to be resolved. We summarize the recent findings concerning the effects of polyphenols on human health, analyze the current limitations at pitfalls, and propose future directions for research.

Keywords:

• polyphenols
• metabolomics
• cardiovascular disease
• antioxidants
• cancer
• bioavailability

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This article stems from the meeting “Malta Polyphenols 2009,” organized by the International Society for Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health (ISANH). Gaëlle Favé thanks the principal investigators of the MEDE Study, Professors John C. Mathers and John Draper. Mario Zoratti acknowledges support by the CARIPARO Foundation.