Foods rich in flavonoids, including berries, apples, pears and wine, appear to have a positive effect on blood pressure. This is an association that researchers have made in part through theCharacteristics of the intestinal microbiomeexplain in a new study. The study results show that intestinal bacteria play a key role in metabolizing flavonoids and even enhance their cardioprotective effects.
How flavonoid-rich foods affect blood pressure
Recent studies have found a connection between the gut microbiota, the microorganisms in the human digestive tract and cardiovascular disease. Increasing research also suggests that flavonoids may reduce the risk of heart disease. Given these findings, the study authors examined the role of the gut microbiome in this process. The researchers analyzed how flavonoid-rich foods affect blood pressure and the diversity of intestinal flora. The analysis should also reveal how much variation within the gut microbiome could explain these effects. The research team recruited a group of 904 adults between the ages of 25 and 82. Of these, 57% were men from the German PopGen biobank. This biobank includes participants from a network of seven biobanks in northern Germany. The researchers then assessed the subjects' food intake, gut microbiome and blood pressure, along with other clinical and molecular phenotypes. This happened during regular follow-up examinations.
Analysis of the regular intake of flavonoids in the intestinal microbiome and blood pressure values revealed greater diversity of intestinal bacteria and improved systolic blood pressure. Eating 1.6 servings of berries per day was associated with an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 4.1 mm Hg. The researchers explained around 12% of these associations with the role of the intestinal flora in metabolism. Drinking 2.8 glasses or 125 ml of red wine per week reduced high blood pressure by an average of 3.7 mm Hg. A better understanding of individual variability in flavonoid metabolism may well explain why some people experience greater cardiovascular protection benefits foods rich in flavonoids than others. However, the authors also noted that the focusthis studylies in certain foods that are rich in flavonoids. Additionally, the results are not based on all foods and drinks containing flavonoids.
