Flavonoid intake in relation to lipid profile and fasting blood glucose: A cross-sectional analysis of the MASHHAD PERSIAN cohort study

Ghodrat, Sara; Shahraki Jazinaki, Mostafa; Rezvani, Reza; Khadem-Rezaiyan, Majid; Arabi, Seyyed Mostafa; Eslami Hasanabadi, Saeid; Abolhassani, Mohammad Hassan; Tabatabaee Jabali, Seyed Mohammad

doi:10.22038/ajp.2025.27153

Flavonoid intake in relation to lipid profile and fasting blood glucose: A cross-sectional analysis of the MASHHAD PERSIAN cohort study

Articles in Press

Document Type : Short communication

Authors

¹ Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

² Medical Sciences Education Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

³ Clinical nutrition and biochemistry department, Faculty of Medicine, Neyashbur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran

⁴ Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

⁵ Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁶ Department of Sports Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.22038/ajp.2025.27153

Abstract

Objective: Flavonoids are plant compounds with health benefits, but studies on their link to fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid profile are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between flavonoid intake and these factors.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 3423 participants (56% women and 44% men) aged 35 to 70 years. Flavonoid intakes were calculated through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) by using the Phenol Explorer (PE) database. A multivariable analysis was performed to examine the association between flavonoid intake and health outcomes by comparing the highest and lowest intake levels, and results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).
Results: This study has shown that the highest total flavonoid intakes were significantly associated with the lower odds of elevated levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Also, the highest intakes of flavanone had a significant relationship with lower odds of elevated FBG levels. Moreover, flavanols and flavonols consumption were significantly related to both lower odds of elevated TC and TG levels. In addition, flavanols intakes were significantly associated with lower odds of elevated LDL-C levels. Furthermore, the highest Flavones intake was significantly related to the lower odds of reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C).
Conclusion: This cross-sectional study revealed that flavonoid intake and its subclasses could be related to healthier levels of lipid profile and FBG levels. However, conducting high-quality prospective studies to reach definite findings is necessary.

Keywords

Main Subjects