Dietary Polyphenols and Cardiovascular Health: From Bioavailability to Clinical Relevance
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12–16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- 2Department of Invasive Cardiology, Health Center Valjevo, 14000 Valjevo, Serbia
- 3Faculty of Health Sciences, Singidunum University, 14000 Valjevo, Serbia
- 4Centre for Innovative Process Engineering (CENTIV) GmbH, 28857 Syke, Germany
- 5Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering, School of Environment and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 118 55 Athens, Greece
- 6PRINSUS P.C., Iron Polytechniou 9, Zografou Campus, 157 80 Athens, Greece
- 7Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12–16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
Dietary polyphenols, abundant in fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, cocoa, and wine, have been widely investigated for their potential relevance to cardiovascular health. Their proposed protective effects extend beyond classical antioxidant activity, encompassing regulation of redox-sensitive signaling, attenuation of inflammation, improvement in endothelial function, modulation of lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial protection. Yet, their biological impact is strongly dependent on bioavailability and metabolic fate, as most compounds undergo extensive conjugation and gut microbiota-dependent transformation. Conjugated metabolites and microbial derivatives increasingly appear as key mediators of systemic vascular responses. Epidemiological studies associate polyphenol-rich dietary patterns with reduced cardiovascular risk, while clinical trials report modest and variable effects on intermediate outcomes such as vascular function, blood pressure, and plasma lipids. However, heterogeneity in study design, dosing, and compound source contributes to inconsistent outcomes and limits translation into practice. This review integrates current knowledge on classification, dietary sources, metabolism, and molecular mechanisms of polyphenols, emphasizing the interplay between host and microbiota in shaping cardioprotective responses. By bridging mechanistic insights with clinical observations, we highlight both the therapeutic promise and the translational challenges of polyphenols. Standardized intervention protocols, physiologically relevant dosing strategies, and precision nutrition approaches are essential to fully realize their potential in cardiovascular prevention.
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BibTeX
@article{ristivojevic2026dietary,
title = {{Dietary Polyphenols and Cardiovascular Health: From Bioavailability to Clinical Relevance}},
author = {Maja Krstić Ristivojević and Dušan Ružičić and Monica Trif and Sofia Papadaki and Petar Ristivojević and Ilija Cvijetić},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31193549},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667100},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dietary Polyphenols and Cardiovascular Health: From Bioavailability to Clinical Relevance
AU - Maja Krstić Ristivojević
AU - Dušan Ružičić
AU - Monica Trif
AU - Sofia Papadaki
AU - Petar Ristivojević
AU - Ilija Cvijetić
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/molecules31193549
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667100
AB - Dietary polyphenols, abundant in fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, cocoa, and wine, have been widely investigated for their potential relevance to cardiovascular health. Their proposed protective effects extend beyond classical antioxidant activity, encompassing regulation of redox-sensitive signaling, attenuation of inflammation, improvement in endothelial function, modulation of lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial protection. Yet, their biological impact is strongly dependent on bioavailability and metabolic fate, as most compounds undergo extensive conjugation and gut microbiota-dependent transformation. Conjugated metabolites and microbial derivatives increasingly appear as key mediators of systemic vascular responses. Epidemiological studies associate polyphenol-rich dietary patterns with reduced cardiovascular risk, while clinical trials report modest and variable effects on intermediate outcomes such as vascular function, blood pressure, and plasma lipids. However, heterogeneity in study design, dosing, and compound source contributes to inconsistent outcomes and limits translation into practice. This review integrates current knowledge on classification, dietary sources, metabolism, and molecular mechanisms of polyphenols, emphasizing the interplay between host and microbiota in shaping cardioprotective responses. By bridging mechanistic insights with clinical observations, we highlight both the therapeutic promise and the translational challenges of polyphenols. Standardized intervention protocols, physiologically relevant dosing strategies, and precision nutrition approaches are essential to fully realize their potential in cardiovascular prevention.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -