Flavonoids intake among Polish and Spanish students

Flavonoids are a group of bioactive compounds that are extensively found in foodstuffs of plant origin. Their regular consumption plays an important role in the prevention of degenerative diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

The purpose of the study was to estimate dietary flavonoid intake among Polish and Spanish students and to establish the main dietary sources of flavonoids.

This study included 91 Polish and 60 Spanish students. Dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire. The dietary USDA Database for the flavonoid content of selected foods was used to calculate daily and weekly flavonoid intakes by the subjects.

The average flavonoid consumption in the Polish students was 801 mg/day, and in Spanish students 297 mg/day. Food categories such as beverages, vegetables and fruits were found to be significant sources of flavonoids, of which tea, oranges, orange juice, dried parsley and oregano were the main contributors among Polish students and oranges, tea, chick-peas, orange juice and dried parsley were the main sources of flavonoids among Spanish students.

Flavonoid consumption in Polish students was more than two times higher than in Spanish students. Compared to other population studies consumption of flavonoids in both students groups was adequate.