Associations between dietary intake of flavonoids and adiposity: cross-sectional findings from the Fenland Study, the United Kingdom
Authors' conclusion
Flavonoids may influence adiposity, a potential pathway for the relationship between flavonoid-rich foods and metabolic risk. Proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins may affect site-specific fat distribution, particularly visceral adiposity. Further investigation in prospective, interventional, and mechanistic studies is warranted to understand the link between flavonoids and adiposity.
Study context
- Population
- Adults recruited to the Fenland Study between 2005 and 2015 in Cambridgeshire, UK; habitual diets by food frequency questionnaires
- Participants
- 11,568 adults
- Exposure
- Doubling in total flavonoid intake
- Outcome
- Associations of doubling total flavonoid intake with adiposity markers
Methodological detailsrobust regression adjusted for relevant confounders, corrected for false discovery rate
- Robust regression adjusted for relevant confounders
- Corrected for false discovery rate
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Body fat (betalog2)
- −0.54% (95% CI −0.70; −0.40)
- VAT
- −0.13 cm (−0.17; −0.08)
- SCAT
- −0.05 cm (−0.08; −0.02)
- Body mass index (BMI)
- −0.33 kg/m² (−0.44; −0.22)
- Waist circumference
- −0.84 cm (−1.13; −0.55)
- Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)
- −0.004 (−0.006; −0.002)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Flavonoid intake
- Median flavonoid intake (IQR 258.5-568.6)
- 428 mg/d
Flavonoid subclasses
- Most subclasses showed similar results, except isoflavones, positively associated with body fat, VAT and waist circumference
- Proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins showed the strongest negative associations independently of BMI
Subgroups
- Stronger negative associations in women, older adults and non-smokers
Original publication
Associations between dietary intake of flavonoids and adiposity: cross-sectional findings from the Fenland Study, the United Kingdom. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 13 March 2026. doi:10.
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