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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199479
Title: OCCURRENCE AND BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PROANTHOCYANIDINS IN THE AMERICAN DIET

Author
item Prior, Ronald
item GU, LIWEI - ACNC/UAMS

Submitted to: Phytochemistry
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/17/2004
Publication Date: 3/25/2005
Citation: Prior, R.L., Gu, L. 2005. Occurrence and biological significance of proanthocyanidins in the American diet. Phytochemistry. 66:2264-2280

Interpretive Summary: Proanthocyanidins are large complex compounds found in many foods, particularly fruits and berries. These substances have been shown to have potential health benefits. However, little is known about their dietary intake because quantitative information on the proanthocyanidin profiles in foods is lacking. Dietary intake of proanthocyanidins (PA's) has been largely unknown because of the lack of reliable values for their content in foods. Recent development of an analytical method for proanthocyanidins has allowed the quantification of individual oligomers and polymers. This method has been employed to analyze food samples collected under the USDA National Food and Nutrition Analysis Program. A database of the PA content in common foods and also infant foods has been established. It has been shown that PAs account for a major fraction of flavonoids ingested in the U.S. diet and infants and children appear to ingest more PA's than adults on the basis of body weight. These data will provide an opportunity to examine the association between PA intake and health and disease outcomes in epidemiological studies. PA analysis and the significance of PA's in nutrition and diet are reviewed.

Technical Abstract: Dietary intake of proanthocyanidins (PA's) has been largely unknown because of the lack of reliable values for their content in foods. Recent development of an analytical method for PAs has allowed the quantification of individual oligomers and polymers. This method has been employed to analyze food samples collected under the USDA National Food and Nutrition Analysis Program. A database of the PA content in common foods and also infant foods has been established. It has been shown that PAs account for a major fraction of flavonoids ingested in the U.S. diet and infants and children appear to ingest more PA's than adults on the basis of body weight. These data will provide an opportunity to examine the association between PA intake and health and disease outcomes in epidemiological studies. PA analysis and the significance of PAs in nutrition and diet are reviewed.