Dietary Flavenoids May Help Prevent Weight Gain

Dr. Monica L. Bertoia, MPH, PhD Instructor in Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School Research Associate, Department of Nutrition Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, MA 02115

Dr. Monica Bertoia

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Monica L. Bertoia, MPH, PhD
Instructor in Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine
Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Research Associate, Department of Nutrition
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
Boston, MA 02115

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Most weight loss studies have focused on one type of flavonoid, the flavan-3-ols found in green tea, and are limited to small numbers of overweight and obese study participants. We examined 7 subclasses of flavonoids and weight change in 124,086 healthy adults who reported their diet and weight repeatedly over up to 24 years.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: Increased consumption of most classes of flavonoids was associated with less weight gain over four year time intervals, particularly anthocyanins (found in berries and dark red fruits), flavonoid polymers (found in tea), and flavonols (found in onions, tea, and apples). Although increased flavonoid intake was associated with small changes in weight, preventing even small amounts of weight gain could have an important public health impact.

Citation:

Bertoia Monica L, Rimm Eric B, Mukamal Kenneth J,Hu Frank B, Willett Walter C, Cassidy Aedín et al.Dietary flavonoid intake and weight maintenance: three prospective cohorts of 124 086 US men and women followed for up to 24 years

Monica L. Bertoia, MPH, PhD (2016). Dietary Flavenoids May Help Prevent Weight Gain 

Last Updated on January 29, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD