Though people are living longer, the proportion of years spent in good health remains the same. Recent research has shown that dietary flavonoids delay biological aging (J Transl Med. 2023;21(1):492).
A massive new study has added to the evidence that flavonoids help people to age more healthily. People with the most flavonoids in their diet had 15% lower risk of developing frailty, 12% lower risk of developing impaired physical function and 12% lower risk of developing poor mental health.
Some of the most effective dietary sources considered in this study were tea, red wine, apples, blueberries, strawberries, oranges and grapefruit.
Fewer physical benefits were seen in men; although men with the highest flavonoid scores also had significantly lower risk of poor mental health. The reason for the smaller physical benefit is not known, but it may have been due to shorter follow-up times.
Am J Clin Nutr. May 2025;121(5):972-85.