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Associations between flavonoid-rich food and flavonoid intakes and incident unhealthy aging outcomes in older United States males and females
Our understanding of how flavonoid-rich foods help prevent various aspects of unhealthy aging remains limited. This study by Bondonno et al. (2025) investigated how consuming such foods, along with overall flavonoid intake, relates to key indicators of unhealthy aging, including frailty, reduced physical function, and poor mental health. Researchers tracked more than 86,000 participants in two large cohort studies—the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Nurses’ Health Study—who were 60 years of age or older. Dietary data were gathered through repeated food frequency questionnaires, and participants were tracked for signs of frailty, physical decline, and mental health issues. The analysis showed that individuals with the highest intake of flavonoid-rich foods—such as tea, red wine, apples, blueberries, and oranges—had significantly lower risks of becoming frail, losing physical function, or experiencing poor mental health. Compared to males, these correlations were greater in women. The findings suggest that increasing consumption of flavonoid-rich foods might be a simple, beneficial strategy to promote healthy aging, though further research is necessary to better understand the effects across sexes. [NPID: Flavonoids, flavodiet score, frailty, healthy aging, mental health, physical function]
Year: 2025
