Association Between Polyphenol and Carotenoid Intake and Cardiovascular Health: Longitudinal Assessment of Biomarkers and Diseases

• Grant number: 25/05614-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Franco Maria Lajolo
• Grantee: Renata Alves Carnauba Lavecchia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Research on polyphenols and carotenoids has advanced in recent years. Present in a wide range of plant-based foods, their consumption has been associated with various health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory activities. However, although studies have shown beneficial effects of polyphenol and carotenoid intake on health, there is a knowledge gap regarding the longitudinal associations between intake, biomarkers, and cardiovascular diseases in the Brazilian population. This study aims to longitudinally assess the association between polyphenol and carotenoid consumption, as well as their food sources, and cardiovascular health in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Specifically, it seeks to: (i) describe the intake of these compounds and their main food sources; (ii) investigate their association with the incidence of hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke; (iii) examine their association with lipid biomarkers, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins, as well as the size and distribution of lipoprotein particles; (iv) examine their association with inflammatory markers; and (v) evaluate their association on carotid intima-media thickness and coronary artery calcium score, biomarkers for subclinical atherosclerosis. This investigation will use data from the first (2008-2010) and third (2016-2018) follow-ups of ELSA-Brasil, totaling a maximum follow-up period of 10 years. ELSA-Brasil represents one of the largest Brazilian cohorts, enabling a robust and detailed investigation of these associations. The findings are expected to contribute to the advancement of knowledge on the effects of polyphenols and carotenoids in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, providing support for the development of dietary recommendations and public health strategies aimed at promoting cardiovascular health.