Scientists recommend bioactives in dietary guidelines

Scientists at an international research conference have argued that bioactives — beneficial but non-essential compounds in food — ought to be included in dietary guidelines as a way of promoting good health.

Unlike molecules like fats or carbohydrates, or more complex ingredients like vitamins, bioactives are not essential for human life but are beneficial for good health. One group of bioactives, flavanols, has been investigated for its positive health effects for over 20 years and studies seem to suggest that the compounds have positive health impacts.

At the 10th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health, held in London and hosted by the University of Reading, researchers argued that studies supported governments and public health organisations altering dietary guidelines to officially recognise that bioactives should be part of a healthy diet. If guidelines did acknowledge these compounds, food manufacturers may be able to capitalise on the compounds’ use as health-conscious consumers may find products with them attractive.

The COSMOS trial was one of the studies cited for the benefits of bioactives. Conducted by scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University, it involved a flavanol-rich cocoa extract being given regularly to participants to assess its health impact.

The study found that flavanols are associated with low levels of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with a significant number of people who took flavanols having better health outcomes for cardiovascular disease.

“The evidence basis for flavanols making a meaningful effect on health has reached a point where we feel that guidelines for consumption should be considered,” said Professor Gunter Kuhnle, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Reading and Co-President of the International Conference on Polyphenols and Health.

“We have a wealth of evidence showing that they are safe to consume and that it’s entirely possible to get a significant amount without drastically changing dietary patterns. It’s now time to recognise that bioactive-rich foods should be part of a healthy diet.”

More information about the COSMOS trial is available online.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/aedkafl