title: Proanthocyanidins in health and disease.
abstract: Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are the most abundant flavonoids in the human diet. Several epidemiological studies connect PA consumption and health benefits and the designation of PAs as healthy compounds started at the early stages of the 20th century. The beneficial health properties of PAs are attributed to their conjugated and colonic metabolites. Therefore, gut microbial compositions can determine the effectiveness of PAs. Reciprocally, dietary polyphenols can act as prebiotics. Recently, it has also been described that PAs modulate the circadian rhythm. Biochemical and epigenetic mechanisms, including the modulation of microRNAs, allow PAs to modulate cell functionality. PA effects in metabolic diseases are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cinta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bladé
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aragonès
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arola-Arnal
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muguerza
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisca Isabel
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: M Josepa
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Salvadó
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arola
authors.affiliation: Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suárez
mesh_terms: D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D005419:Flavonoids; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D059808:Polyphenols; D056692:Prebiotics; D044945:Proanthocyanidins
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D059808:Polyphenols; D056692:Prebiotics; D044945:Proanthocyanidins
keywords: circadian rhythms; flavonoids; metabolic diseases; microbiota; molecular mechanisms; polyphenols