Award details

An integrated assessment of the ability of dietary flavonoids to improve vascular function

Reference	BBS/E/F/00041879
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr David Hughes
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Paul Kroon
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	120,377
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	24/01/2005
End date	23/01/2008
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Numerous population-based studies suggest that people with high dietary intakes of fruit and vegetables have a lower risk of developing circulatory diseases. It was widely thought that this was due to antioxidant nutrients present in the plant material, but numerous long-term studies have failed to observe a reduction in risk following long-term dietary supplementation with vitamin E or beta-carotene. Recently, interest has focussed on the protective role that other compounds present in plant material may have. For example, there is increasing evidence that the risk of circulatory disease is less with higher dietary intakes of flavonoids, a group of compounds present in many fruits and vegetables. In this project we aim to investigate whether specific flavonoids, and products formed from them in the body (¿metabolites¿), contribute to maintaining vascular health by favourably altering the function of endothelial cells. These cells line the blood vessel walls and play a major role in regulating and maintaining cardiovascular function. A combined approach, utilising complementary expertise at the Institute of Food Research, Norwich, and the University of Nottingham, will help elucidate the efficacy and mechanisms of action of flavonoids in terms of reducing circulatory disease-risk. The project will contribute to the BBSRC¿s priority research area of Diet and Vascular Health, investigating the relationships between dietary components and the maintenance of vascular health.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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