Affiliation:
1. Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy
Abstract
Background:
In recent years, the possibility of favorably influencing the cognitive capacity
through the promotion of lifestyle modifications has been increasingly investigated. In particular,
the relationship between nutritional habits and brain health has attracted special attention. Polyphenols
are secondary metabolites of plants. These phytochemicals are present in vegetables, fruits, legumes,
olive oil, nuts. They include several antioxidant compounds and are generally considered to be
involved in defense against chronic human diseases. In recent years, there has been a growing scientific
interest in their potential health benefits to the brain.
Objective:
In this mini-review, we focus on the current evidence defining the position of polyphenols
dietary intake in the prevention/slowdown of human neurodegenerative diseases.
Methods:
A literature research was performed using the keywords “polyphenols”, “brain”, “nutrition”,
individually or all together, focusing on human trials.
Results:
The available clinical studies on the effect of polyphenols on cognitive functions are quite
convincing. Regular dietary intake of polyphenols would seem to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative
diseases. Moreover, beyond their beneficial power on the central nervous system, these phytochemicals
seem also to be able to work on numerous cellular targets. They show different biological
actions, that however, have to be confirmed in long-term randomized clinical trials. Currently, most
data propose that a combination of phytonutrients instead of any single polyphenol is responsible for
health benefits.
Conclusions:
Evolving indications suggest that dietary polyphenols may exercise beneficial actions
on the central nervous system, thus representing a possible tool to preserve cognitive performance.
Key questions to improve the coherence and reproducibility in the development of polyphenols as a
possible future therapeutic drug require a better understanding of the sources of polyphenols, their
treatment and more standardized tests including bioavailability of bioactive metabolites and studies
of permeability of the brain.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Nutrition and Dietetics,Food Science
Cited by
20 articles.
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