Polyphenol rich foodsintake as a strategy for an improvement of age-associated cognitive function and cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Intake of polyphenols is associated with beneficial health effects. Anthocyanins are natural pigments present in various fruits and vegetables and in red wine. Flavanols are widely distributed in fruits, cereals and vegetables, being fruits and cocoa the major source of them. The present study has been designed to assess the possible benefits of an increased dietary intake of this type of compounds in adult women and men aged between 50 and 75 years. The project hypothesis is that the combined intake of anthocyanins and flavanols might improve cardiometabolic state and cognitive function in adults, preventing deterioration in the quality of life associated with aging. The objective is to determine the effect of the consumption of anthocyanins and flavanols on cardiovascular risk markers (measure of flow-mediated dilation (FMD)) and cognitive function (ie, Spatial Recall Test and Tower of London Test). The foods used to increase the intake of polyphenols will be cocoa and red berries. The sample will consist of 120 volunteers randomly distributed into 4 groups according to the treatment they will receive and balancing the groups by sex, average flow dilation and smoking status. Volunteers will visit ICTAN's Nutrition Unit at 3 occasions: visit 0, for inclusion, visit 1 at the beginning, and the last one after a 10 weeks intervention. At each visit blood and urine samples will be collected for further analysis. Additionally a nutritional assessments and anthropometric measures will be done. Concurring with the initial and final visits, volunteers will be visiting the 12 de Octubre University Hospital for FMD determinations by ultrasound and to undergo cognitive tests of attention, memory and executive functions. Finally, data collected will be analysed for statistical significance.