Seasonal Variations in Dietary Flavonoid Content of Edible Plants | ||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||
| Article 5, Volume 53, Issue 1, April 2023, Pages 38-45 PDF (401.71 K) | ||
| Document Type: Review Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2023.326976 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Meisa Al Foraih1; Sarah L. Hyatt2; Nenad Naumovski2, 3; Hajar A. Alasmari* 4 | ||
| 1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait | ||
| 2Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Australia | ||
| 3Functional Foods and Nutrition Research (FFNR) Laboratory, University of Canberra, Australia | ||
| 4Department of Nursing, Taif University, Saudi Arabia | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Flavonoids are ubiquitous compounds commonly found in vegetables, fruits and other plant foods. Although not considered nutrients per se, consumption of various flavonoids is associated with established health benefits. Their biosynthesis, and therefore concentrations, are influenced by genetic, geographic and environmental conditions. Flavonoid content in foods can be seasonal, potentially influencing their total intake and biovailability. In view of the potential role of flavonoids in human health, studies published over an 11-year period (2009 to 2020) investigating links between flavonoid content and season in edible and medicinal plants, were examined. The limited studies to date focus on a small range of plant species. Within this, there is consistent evidence that flavonoid content varies according to season, particularly in relation to plant genotype and environmental conditions such as temperature, geographic location, light conditions/UV radiation and drought/water stress. Seven studies detected highest total flavonoid content at the end of winter and lowest in mid-autumn. From the included studies, rutin was the most commonly studied flavonoid, showing its highest levels in both spring and winter. These findings suggest studies on flavonoid intake should include seasonal considerations. Further studies on seasonal variations of common dietary flavonoids are warranted to enable such studies. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Flavonoids; availability; seasonal variability; environment | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 161 PDF Download: 302 |
||
