High Dietary Intake of Flavanols Supports Healthy Blood Pressure Levels

Flavanols, also known as flavan-3-ols, are bioactive compounds found naturally in many plants, including tea, apples, various berries, and cocoa beans. A new study has found that a flavanol-rich diet may help improve blood pressure.

Participants in the study included 25,619 adults who took part in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk cohort. Nutritional biomarkers were measured and used to evaluate dietary intake of flavanols. Blood pressure was measured for all participants.

Participants with the highest dietary intake of flavanols had significantly lower blood systolic blood pressure compared to those with lowest intake. Specifically, systolic blood pressure in men was 1.9 mmHg lower and in women was 2.5 mmHg lower. This association was highest in participants who were hypertensive.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge, the University of Reading, and the University of California Davis. It was published online ahead of print on October 21, 2020 in the journal Scientific Reports.