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European Journal of Nutrition

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Open Access 01-11-2019 | Nutrition | Review

Contribution of plant food bioactives in promoting health effects of plant foods: why look at interindividual variability?

Authors: Christine Morand, Francisco A. Tomás-Barberán

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Special Issue 2/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Research has identified plant-based diets as the most protective for our health; it is now essential to focus on good food associations and the beneficial constituents in plant foods. From a growing body of evidence, some categories of food phytochemicals are increasingly considered to play a crucial role in the cardiometabolic health effects associated with plant food consumption. However, the heterogeneity in responsiveness to plant food bioactive intake that is frequently observed in clinical trials can hinder the identification of the effects of these compounds in specific subpopulations and likely lead to underestimating their actual contribution to the health effects of their food sources.

Results

The magnitude and the main factors responsible for this between-subject variation in response to the consumption of the major families of food phytochemicals have been poorly documented so far. Thus, research efforts in this area must be developed. More importantly, capturing the interindividual variability in response to plant food bioactive intake, together with identifying the main determinants involved, is a crucial step that will enable the development and production of plant food products, thereby satisfying the nutritional needs and conferring benefits to different categories of populations.

Conclusion

The development of a science-based personalised nutrition approach focusing on plant foods rich in specific bioactive compounds could contribute to alleviating the dramatic burden of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

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Title: Contribution of plant food bioactives in promoting health effects of plant foods: why look at interindividual variability?
Authors: Christine Morand
Francisco A. Tomás-Barberán
Publication date: 01-11-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Nutrition
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue Special Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02096-0

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