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. 2018 Jan 15;10(1):95.
doi: 10.3390/nu10010095.

Dietary Intake of Flavonoids and Ventilatory Function in European Adults: A GA²LEN Study

Vanessa Garcia-Larsen  1 , Narjis Thawer  2 , David Charles  3   4 , Aedin Cassidy  5 , Thibaut van Zele  6 , Trine Thilsing  7 , Matti Ahlström  8 , Tari Haahtela  9 , Thomas Keil  10   11 , Paolo M Matricardi  12 , Grzegorz Brożek  13 , Marek L Kowalski  14 , Joanna Makowska  15 , Ewa Niżankowska-Mogilnicka  16 , Barbara Rymarczyk  17 , Carlos Loureiro  18 , Ana Todo Bom  19 , Claus Bachert  20 , Bertil Forsberg  21 , Christer Janson  22 , Kjell Torén  23 , James F Potts  24 , Peter Gj Burney  25
Affiliations

Dietary Intake of Flavonoids and Ventilatory Function in European Adults: A GA²LEN Study

Vanessa Garcia-Larsen et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: Flavonoids exert anti-inflammatory properties and modulate oxidative stress in vitro, suggesting a protective effect on lung function, but epidemiological studies examining this association are scarce.

Methods: A stratified random sample was drawn from the GA²LEN screening survey, in which 55,000 adults aged 15 to 75 answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was obtained from 2850 subjects. Forced vital capacity (FVC), the ratio between the forced exhaled volume in 1 second (FEV₁) and FVC (FEV₁/FVC), FVC below lower limit of normal (FVC < LLN), and FEV₁/FVC < LLN were calculated. Intake of the six main subclasses of flavonoids was estimated using the GA²LEN Food Frequency Questionnaire. Adjusted associations between outcomes and each subclass of flavonoids were examined with multivariate regressions. Simes' procedure was used to test for multiple comparisons.

Results: A total of 2599 subjects had valid lung function and dietary data. A lower prevalence of FVC < LLN (airway restriction) was observed in those with higher total flavonoid (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), higher vs. lowest quintile intake 0.58; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.36, 0.94), and pro-anthocyanidin intakes (aOR 0.47; 95% CI 0.27, 0.81). A higher FEV₁/FVC was associated with higher intakes of total flavonoids and pro-anthocyanidins (adjusted correlation coefficient (a β-coeff 0.33; 0.10, 0.57 and a β-coeff 0.44; 95% CI 0.19, 0.69, respectively). After Simes' procedure, the statistical significance of each of these associations was attenuated but remained below 0.05, with the exception of total flavonoids and airway restriction.

Conclusions: This population-based study in European adults provides cross-sectional evidence of a positive association of total flavonoid intake and pro-anthocyanidins and ventilatory function, and a negative association with spirometric restriction in European adults.

Keywords: GA2LEN; flavonoids; lung function; pro-anthocyanidins.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total flavonoid intake in the adults participating in the GA2LEN Follow-Up Survey who had valid lung function data (n = 2599).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The association of FEV1/FVC and intakes (mg) of pro-anthocyanidins (a) and flavonols (b) (Meta-analysis of adjusted effect estimates (β-coefficient); n = 2599).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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