Prescribing and hospital admissions for asthma in east London: Table 1

Abstract

The incidence of coronary mortality is higher among populations with low dietary intake of flavonoids * The protective effect of flavonoids was associated with a diet high in intake of apples and onions * The effect may be mediated through prevention of oxidation of low density lipoproteins but other mechanisms could be involved * Flavonoids offer an explanation for the suggested beneficial effect of fruits and vegetables in coronary heart disease * Further studies should concentrate on the effects of various flavonoid compounds and on populations with different intakes significantly to intake of the antioxidant vitamins C or E or fi carotene the association observed for flavonoids was probably not due to these antioxidants.With the exception of berries in men, foods repre- senting sources of flavonoids were inversely associated with coronary mortality risk.In contrast with fruits and vegetables some berries also contain considerable amounts of flavonoids (for example, myricetin), which, according to in vitro studies, modify low density lipoprotein to increase its uptake by macrophages, thus possibly having an opposite effect on the risk of coronary heart disease.24This and the low accuracy of our estimates of flavonoid concentration in berries may explain the absence of an association.In summary, the results of the present study suggest that people with very low dietary intakes of flavonoids have increased risks of coronary heart disease.This could not, however, be fully distinguished from the possible effects of other dietary substances or lifestyle.Further longitudinal studies of other populations are needed to confirm the importance of flavonoids in the prevention of coronary heart disease.