Dear Rao,

I recently prepared project for the Innocentive Inc., and carefully studied the literature.

And I came to a simple conclusion - most of the information about the benefits of polyphenols is clear or latent advertising. The main benefit of polyphenols is to maintain a healthy intestinal flora.

Blood concentration of polyphenols almost never reaches pharmacologically significant level. Moreover, the excess of polyphenols in the diet may lead to diseases - for example, prostate cancer in men at increased consumption of green tea.

And this publication

Quantitative data on the bioavailability and bioefficacy of polyphenols, using high quality standards, have been presented in “Bioavailability and bioefficacy of polyphenols in humans. I. Review of 97 bioavailability studies” Claudine Manach, Gary Williamson, Christine Morand, Augustin Scalbert, and Christian Rémésy Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81(suppl):230S–42S http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/1/230S.full.pdf , also “Bioavailability and bioefficacy of polyphenols in humans. II. Review of 93 intervention studies ”, Gary Williamson and Claudine Manach, Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81(suppl):243S–55S. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/1/243S.full.pdf+html ). Catechins in dose 300mg, consumed in black tea+milk (system that is close to Seekers case), have half-life elimination as 8.6h. However, most of the catechins in the plasma is in a bound state.

More closely this problem is considered in the review “Bioavailability of the Polyphenols: Status and Controversies” Massimo D’Archivio, Carmelina Filesi, Rosaria Varì, Beatrice Scazzocchio and Roberta Masella Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2010, 11, 1321-1342; doi:10.3390/ijms11041321

I only agree a few with the Andrei Rogosa. About the statement "Blood concentration of polyphenols almost never reaches pharmacologically significant level", is a topic not enough studied in the litterature. It's necessary to have one's own experience. For instance, is known that some nutrients can help human organism to absorb healty polyphenols. One of this "nutrients" is...ethanol (in low levels, along with the meals). That is the recommendation of the "Mediteranean diet". It's also verified by Serge Renaud in the epidemiologic study called "French Paradox", and many times re-verified in other studies.

About the polyhenols that can cause the cancer, there are many few, and are clearely identified.

Finally, I must refer resveratrol, many times verified as a powerful anti-cancer agent.

Great knowledge for me to know the polyphenols. I think these are from diet. I am not sure on polyphenol and canccer, as mechanisms are not clear. Needs more arguments.

Here are a few papers from my lab looking at the effects of pomegranate polyphenols on the brain and its function:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258044040_Pomegranate_Supplementation_Protects_against_Memory_Dysfunction_after_Heart_Surgery_A_Pilot_Study?ev=prf_pub

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236676233_Pomegranate_supplementation_improves_affective_and_motor_behavior_in_mice_after_radiation_exposure?ev=prf_pub

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225071336_Actions_of_Bioactive_Phytochemicals_in_Cell_Function_and_Alzheimer's_Disease_Pathology?ev=prf_pub

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6783524_Pomegranate_juice_decreases_amyloid_load_and_improves_behavior_in_a_mouse_model_of_Alzheimer's_disease?ev=prf_pub

Article Pomegranate Supplementation Protects against Memory Dysfunct...

Article Pomegranate Supplementation Improves Affective and Motor Beh...

Chapter Actions of Bioactive Phytochemicals in Cell Function and Alz...

Article Pomegranate juice decreases amyloid load and improves behavi...

Note that Andrei Rogoza may be correct in that all of the brain / behavior effects we have described *may* be downstream effects from changes in gut microflora - nevertheless, whether directly or indirectly, the brain and behavior is definitely affected by polyphenols

@Rao

Sorry, BLACK tee:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225372993_Tea_consumption_and_the_risk_of_overall_and_grade_specific_prostate_cancer_a_large_prospective_cohort_study_of_Scottish_men?ev=prf_pub

@Paolo:

There is a lot points of view on assosiation of cancer and polyphenols, but my remark was about EXCESS, i.e. overconsumption

Alcohol as an absorption enhancer works at a concentration of more than 30 percent - this should be a diet of alcoholics with consumption of vodka, tequila, rum or cognac. Please carefully read the literature in my answers - sure you will agree with me.

@Richard

thanks, very good, argued answer, RELATED to Rao's question about POLYPHENOLS IN FOOD = not in pills ( first citation), and human (?) BRAIN - not about cells and mice ( 2-4 citation).

Article Tea Consumption and the Risk of Overall and Grade Specific P...

Dietary polyphenols will definitely work. polyphenols at levels present in foods and fruits may appear less and their bioavailability too. but, look at the literature on red wine and cancer; Broccoli and healthy living, Eugenia jambulana and control of diabetes and CVD, and many more examples. Population Studies on polyphenols and memory showed the influence of pp on healthy brain. there have been studies on some of the polyphenols crossing blood-brain barriers and causing protection. Plethora of information is also available on the influence of polyphenols, anthocyanins and related compounds on the differential expressions of genes involved in inflammation, apoptosis, and tumor necrosis. We speak of problems related to their bio availability at the pharmocological concentrations. However, not much studies could show their excretion that amounts to the losses occurred by simple thumb rule. I am of an opinion that we need to design studies in such a way that it simulates natural conditions. Bio availability is not the consequence of pure compound but, there are studies that show some foods like for ex. sweet potato increases bio availability of some polyphenols. I know polyphenols works, but, presently, they are used for preventive measures. Some of the pp's showed pharmacological capabilities in canceres, metabolic disorders, memory, etc but, yet we need to understand the delevery systems and mechanisms.

Thanks

of course. In fact the polyphenol pinocembrin are proves in rats for the brains problem.

try with this paper

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875536413600187

A good number of epidemiological studies have shown that polyphenols are effective in scavenging free radicals responsible for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and other dread diseases viz., cancer, cardiovascular disorders, , Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment,, Parkinson’s disease , alcohol induced liver disease, ulcerative colitis, aging and atherosclerosis. As such, it can be convincingly inferred that polyphenols are good for longevity of brain health.