Flavanols and Anthocyanins in Cardiovascular Health: A Review of Current Evidence

25 páginas,4 figuras, 2 tablas.Nowadays it is accepted that natural flavonoids present in fruits and plantderived-foods are relevant, not only for technological reasons and organoleptic properties,but also because of their potential health-promoting effects, as suggested by the availableexperimental and epidemiological evidence. The beneficial biological effects of these foodbioactives may be driven by two of their characteristic properties: their affinity for proteins and their antioxidant activity. Over the last 15 years, numerous publications havedemonstrated that besides their in vitro antioxidant capacity, certain phenolic compounds,such as anthocyanins, catechins, proanthocyanidins, and other non coloured flavonoids,may regulate different signaling pathways involved in cell survival, growth anddifferentiation. In this review we will update the knowledge on the cardiovascular effectsof anthocyanins, catechins and proanthocyanidins, as implied by the in vitro and clinicalstudies on these compounds. We also review the available information on the structure,distribution and bioavailability of flavanols (monomeric catechins and proanthocyanidins)and anthocyanins, data necessary in order to understand their role in reducing risk factorsand preventing cardiovascular health problems through different aspects of theirbioefficacy on vascular parameters (platelet agregation, atherosclerosis, blood pressure,antioxidant status, inflammation-related markers, etc.), myocardial conditions, and wholebodymetabolism (serum biochemistry, lipid profile), highlighting the need for better- designed clinical studies to improve the current knowledge on the potential health benefits of these flavonoids to cardiovascular and metabolic health.Peer reviewe