Dietary Polyphenols, Mediterranean Diet, Prediabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review of the Evidence
Open Access
- 13 August 2017
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
- Vol. 2017, 1-16
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6723931
Abstract
Dietary polyphenols come mainly from plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, coffee, tea, and nuts. Polyphenols may influence glycemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) through different mechanisms, such as promoting the uptake of glucose in tissues, and therefore improving insulin sensitivity. This review aims to summarize the evidence from clinical trials and observational prospective studies linking dietary polyphenols to prediabetes and T2D, with a focus on polyphenol-rich foods characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. We aimed to describe the metabolic biomarkers related to polyphenol intake and genotype-polyphenol interactions modulating the effects on T2D. Intakes of polyphenols, especially flavan-3-ols, and their food sources have demonstrated beneficial effects on insulin resistance and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Several prospective studies have shown inverse associations between polyphenol intake and T2D. The Mediterranean diet and its key components, olive oil, nuts, and red wine, have been inversely associated with insulin resistance and T2D. To some extent, these associations may be attributed to the high amount of polyphenols and bioactive compounds in typical foods conforming this traditional dietary pattern. Few studies have suggested that genetic predisposition can modulate the relationship between polyphenols and T2D risk. In conclusion, the intake of polyphenols may be beneficial for both insulin resistance and T2D risk.Keywords
This publication has 91 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of virgin olive oil and thyme phenolic compounds on blood lipid profile: implications of human gut microbiotaEuropean Journal of Nutrition, 2015
- Dietary Intakes of Individual Flavanols and Flavonols Are Inversely Associated with Incident Type 2 Diabetes in European PopulationsJournal of Nutrition, 2014
- The association between urinary phytoestrogen excretion and components of the metabolic syndrome in NHANESEuropean Journal of Nutrition, 2013
- Recent advances in understanding the anti-diabetic actions of dietary flavonoidsThe Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2013
- A metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetesNature, 2012
- Olive oil and CVD: accruing evidence of a protective effectBritish Journal of Nutrition, 2012
- Effects of chocolate, cocoa, and flavan-3-ols on cardiovascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trialsThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2012
- Flaxseed supplementation improved insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people: a randomized crossover designNutrition Journal, 2011
- Effects of a Mediterranean-Style Diet on Cardiovascular Risk FactorsAnnals of Internal Medicine, 2006
- Red wine consumption improves insulin resistance but not endothelial function in type 2 diabetic patientsMetabolism, 2005