Overview
- A 24-year international study involving over 86,000 participants found that higher flavonoid intake significantly lowers risks of frailty, impaired physical function, and poor mental health.
- Women with the highest flavonoid consumption experienced a 15% lower risk of frailty, 12% lower risk of physical decline, and 12% lower risk of poor mental health compared to those with the lowest intake.
- Men also benefited from flavonoid-rich diets, with a 15% reduction in the risk of poor mental health, though fewer associations were observed for other aging outcomes.
- Adding three daily servings of flavonoid-rich foods, such as berries, apples, tea, and citrus, was linked to a 6–11% lower risk of aging-related health issues in women and a 15% mental health benefit in men.
- Flavonoids' antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular-supporting properties underpin their role in promoting healthier aging, according to researchers from Edith Cowan University, Queen’s University Belfast, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.