Green tea, dark chocolate and blueberries contain polyphenols, which are secondary plant compounds. According to a study, they can prevent inflammation in older people by changing the intestinal flora and stimulating their bacteria to produce health-promoting substances.
There is growing scientific evidence that regular dietary intake of polyphenols can contribute to healthy aging. Now, a new study in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research shows that polyphenols in the gut flora cause bacteria that produce indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) to proliferate. IPA has anti-inflammatory and other health-promoting properties that help prevent some age-related diseases.
After eight weeks of switching to a polyphenol-rich diet with lots of green tea, dark chocolate and fruits such as apples, pomegranates and blueberries, 51 people aged 60 and over experienced a significant increase in IPA in the blood, which was accompanied by a reduction in inflammation levels. Such a change in diet might thus be helpful in preventing chronic diseases in the elderly that affect their quality of life.
Surprisingly, these effects were absent in people with kidney disease, which may be related to an altered intestinal flora. Even at the start of the study, these people already had lower IPA levels. “The results might be clinically relevant as the low IPA levels have been associated with rapid decline in kidney function and chronic kidney disease,” said Prof. Cristina Andrés-Lacueva from the University of Barcelona.
Which: DOI 10.1002/mnfr.202100349