title: Flavonoid intake in European adults (18 to 64 years).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flavonoids are a group of phenolic secondary plant metabolites that are ubiquitous in plant-based diets. Data from anthropological, observational and intervention studies have shown that many flavonoids are bioactive. For this reason, there is an increasing interest in investigating the potential health effects of these compounds. The translation of these findings into the context of the health of the general public requires detailed information on habitual dietary intake. However, only limited data are currently available for European populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to determine the habitual intake and main sources of anthocyanidins, flavanols, flavanones, flavones, flavonols, proanthocyanidins, theaflavins and thearubigins in the European Union.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use food consumption data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the FLAVIOLA Food Composition Database to estimate intake of flavonoids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (±SEM) intake of total flavonoids in Europe was 428±49 mg/d, of which 136±14 mg/d were monomeric compounds. Gallated flavan-3-ols (53±12 mg/d) were the main contributor. The lowest flavonoid intake was observed in Mediterranean countries (monomeric compounds: 95±11 mg/d). The distribution of intake was skewed in many countries, especially in Germany (monomeric flavonoids; mean intake: 181 mg/d; median intake: 3 mg/d).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The habitual intake of flavonoids in Europe is below the amounts found to have a significant health effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vogiatzoglou
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Angela A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mulligan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marleen A H
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lentjes
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Luben
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jeremy P E
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: Mars, Inc., McLean, VA, 22101, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schroeter
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine, Clinical Gerontology Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kay-Tee
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Khaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gunter G C
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kuhnle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D005060:Europe; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids