Sristi Raj Rai, Amity University Kolkata
Flavonoids, a naturally occurring sub-group of polyphenolic compounds in various plant parts are of high medicinal value due to its pharmacological effect. One of its members, Flavanols, famous for its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory action has been discovered from fruits and veggies like grapes (red wine), teas, blueberries, apples, and cocoa. Scientific evidence suggests that cocoa flavanols (flavan-3-ols) found in cocoa powder and chocolates have numerous short (2-8 weeks) and long-term benefits on human health. Moreover, it was observed that it also promotes the bioavailability of the gaseous signaling molecule (Nitric oxide – NO). In our body (brain, skin, heart), cocoa flavanols, also aid in oxygen along with nutrient circulation. It also can lift human endothelial (innermost wall of blood vessels) functioning in a short period of 1-2 hr resulting in better blood flow and blood pressure.
Nowadays, due to increasing stress conditions, there has been progressing in cognitive decline thereby accelerating the aging process. Thus, Gabriele Gratton and his group curiously wanted to know whether flavanols can somehow enhance brain vasculature and cognitive performance also proving their linkage in humans via the NO pathway. In order to find out the answer to the question, a double-blinded 2 hr study with 18 young healthy adults (nonsmokers) were conducted.
The CO2 (a key biomarker of cerebrovascular health) exhaled was measured before & after high/low flavanol intake showed an increment by 100-fold when compared to a normal concentration. The fact that the brain is utilizing more O2 is resulting in the elimination of more CO2 was proved. Indirectly revealing the involvement of N0, as it adds to CO2 dependent cerebral blood flow. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure cortical haemoglobin concentration to understand the dynamics of cerebrovascular reactivity (amplitude and time course) that revealed oxygenation in the frontal cortex.
Therefore, the study presents that almost 78% of the subjects that ingested cocoa flavanols, regained rapidly from mild vascular challenges and act 11% faster at complex tests when compared to their baseline activities. Future studies in animal models can easily confirm this by NO assessment, thereby leading a path to the incorporation of flavonoids in the diet of both healthy and high-risk individuals.
Also read: Insulin treatment associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 and Type 2 diabetes
SOURCE – Dietary flavanols improve cerebral cortical oxygenation and cognition in healthy adults” by Gabriele Gratton, Samuel R. Weaver, Claire V. Burley, Kathy A. Low, Edward L. Maclin, Paul W. Johns, Quang S. Pham, Samuel J. E. Lucas, Monica Fabiani and Catarina Rendeiro, 24 November 2020, Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76160-9
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