title: Dietary flavonoids and the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases:  review of recent findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review summarizes the results on flavonoid intakes and the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent advances in food composition databases have allowed the evaluation of a more comprehensive range of flavonoids in epidemiological studies. In addition, the number of randomized trials of flavonoid-rich foods has increased rapidly. Results from both cohort studies and randomized trials suggest that anthocyanidins from berries and flavan-3-ols from green tea and cocoa may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Meta-analyses of randomized trials indicate that the strongest evidence exists for a beneficial effect of green tea on LDL-cholesterol and a beneficial effect of flavan-3-ol-rich cocoa on endothelial function and insulin sensitivity. Few randomized trials had a long duration or evaluated pure flavonoid compounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence from cohort studies and randomized trials suggest beneficial effects of food sources of anthocyanidins (berries) and flavan-3-ols (green tea and cocoa) on cardiovascular health. These findings need to be confirmed in long-term randomized trials, and evaluation of pure compounds will be important to establish what specific flavonoids and doses are effective.
authors.affiliation: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore. ephrmvd@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: Rob M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.forename: Nasheen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.forename: Rikard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landberg
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002099:Cacao / Q000378:metabolism; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004435:Eating; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D044948:Flavonols / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005419:Flavonoids; D044948:Flavonols; C404987:flavan-3-ol