Estimated dietary polyphenol intake and major food sources of the Brazilian population

Epidemiological studies have suggested an inverse association between polyphenol intake and the risk of chronic diseases. However, the lack of comprehensive data on population-level intakes, especially in Latin American countries, has limited research on this topic. We aimed to estimate total and individual polyphenol intakes and determine the major dietary contributors in a representative sample of the Brazilian population. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey, a cross-sectional survey which included data on individual food intake of 34 003 subjects aged 10 years and over collected using two 24-h dietary records. Polyphenol content of foods was identified using the Phenol-Explorer database and Brazilian Food Composition Database. Total and individual polyphenol intake was calculated, as well as the intake distribution by socio-demographic factors. The median and 25-75th percentiles of polyphenol intake were 364·3 and 200·9-1008 mg/d, respectively. After energy adjustment, the median and 25-75th percentiles of polyphenol intake were 204 and 111·4-542·1 mg/1000 kcal/d (4184 kJ/d), respectively. Non-alcoholic beverages and fruits were the major polyphenol suppliers, and coffee and orange juice the main individual food contributors to polyphenol intake. The individual compounds most consumed were isomers of chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid), naringenin and hesperetin. The present study provides, for the first time, data on dietary intake of total and individual polyphenols by the Brazilian population and illustrates the low quality of their diet. These results will facilitate the study of associations between polyphenol class intake and health outcomes, and will also be useful for future dietary intake recommendations.