Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2006

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Nutrition, Food Science, and Hospitality

Abstract

Extensive research has been conducted concerning the beneficial and essential role of vitamins and minerals in overall human health. Documentation of the adequate levels of these essential nutrients has become one of the most effective methods of disease treatment and prevention. Research concerning treatment strategies has expanded to include the role that physiologically active food components from plants play in overall health. These compounds, known as phytochemicals, are nonnutritive plant compounds that have been identified as having properties that aid in disease prevention. Studies focusing on phytochemicals have come to the forefront as a possible medical breakthrough from both health and nutritional standpoints due to their mechanisms of disease treatment and prevention. Even though thousands of phytochemicals have already been identified, their optimal levels and intakes have not yet been established. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database has already collected concentration data for a large number of phytochemical sources and has compiled its findings into average food concentrations. One group of particular interest is the flavonoids, which are abundant in a wide variety of food sources and have research- based health benefits. The average daily intakes of flavonoids by Americans were determined through the use of the USDA phytochemical databases in association with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study's What We Eat in America survey. The NHANES study also included laboratory and health data which was analyzed with relevance to the intake levels to determine if there was any association between flavonoid intake and cardiovascular health indicators. The diet recall data was analyzed for flavonoid intake with the total intake by Americans being I 05.40mg per day. This total intake was further divided into the five major groups of flavonoids with the intakes as follows, anthocyanidin (1.63mg/day), flavan3-ols (68.43mg/day), flavanones (4.33mg/day), flavones (8.59mg/day) and flavonols (22.42mg/day). A comparison of means found significance when intakes were compared based on age groups (0-25years and 25+ years). They had a 2 tailed t value of -10.31 (p=6.07E-25) with intake in the 0-25 age group being 66.30mg/day and l 68.40mg/day in those 25 and older. The parameter estimates for both age and gender were significant (p

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Phytochemicals -- Health aspects

Flavonoids -- Health aspects

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

89

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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