Assessing the Impact of (Poly)phenol-Rich Foods on Cardiometabolic Risk in Postmenopausal Women: A Dietary Trial

Abstract

Menopause is a critical stage in a woman’s life in which cardiometabolic alterations appear, such as insulin resistance or a predisposition to visceral fat deposits, leading to an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases (R-CMBs). New strategies to reduce the R-CMBs in postmenopausal women using natural compounds without adverse effects are desirable. In this sense, plant-based diets rich in fruits and vegetables could play a fundamental role due to the high content of bioactive compounds found in these diets, such as (poly)phenols, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasodilator properties. The aim of this research was to carry out a dietary trial to evaluate the effect of the daily intake of different (poly)phenol-rich foods (PP-rich foods) for 2 months on the modulation of the main cardiometabolic risk biomarkers of postmenopausal women. The results showed a slight improvement in blood pressure (BP), lipid profile and oxidative stress, endothelial function and inflammatory biomarkers. These findings suggest that daily consumption of PP-rich foods alleviated the R-CMBs of postmenopausal women by reducing the oxidative stress and, thus, the risk of cardiovascular events; however, the magnitude of the cardioprotective effect of (poly)phenols depends on inter-individual variability.

Keywords

• cardiovascular diseases
• bioactive compounds
• hypertension
• metabolic health
• women’s health
• dark chocolate