Polyphenols and Healthier Brain? How?

How do polyphenols affect the brain in such a profound way, improving cognitive function? And why all this happens in the gut and requires a healthy microbiome?

A 2024 book, The Gut-Brain Axis, and in particular chapter 14  by Mayer et al., endeavor to answer these questions. 

Researchers are now focused on how polyphenols are absorbed into the body and the organs that benefit most - brain and heart. The gut, and in particular, the colon, is where polyphenols are mostly absorbed with the help of the microbiome, while the benefits of improved cognition and heart function is now attributed to endothelial vascular effects  (Mayer et al., 2024; Ellis et al., 2024).

The gut and its microbiome needs to be robust to breakdown and absorb the large molecule of the polyphenols, and more importantly for brain functions, extract the anthocyanins from berries, especially the blueberries, and flavonoids and flavanols for heart health. It is the reason we combine many of our polyphenols with probiotics. 

We will further discuss endothelial vascular effects from polyphenols in our next communication with you. 

And to our new doctors that have joined our community in the past year - welcome! Our News has much information in the form of articles, with research and detailed explanations on how to use the therapeutic foods. You will find the link in the lower bar of the BioImmersion website. 

We have written for many years about the connection between berries high in polyphenols and the brain (Bardell, S., 2017).

More specifically, Seann has written about the connection between gut ~ brain, and blueberries as the agents necessary to prevent or heal different brain conditions (Bardell, S., 2015, Article). 

Polyphenols are essential for healthy brain function, and foods rich in polyphenols are found in apples, pears (pome fruits), and of course berries. In fact, as research progressed throughout the years, Anthocyanins (which are part of polyphenols) were found to be one of the most important nutrient for brain and nerve regeneration. 

In 2017, one of our favorite research teams of Joseph James and Barbara Shukitt-Hale conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with participants between the ages of 60-75 years. One group ate freeze dried blueberry (equivalent to one cup of fresh blueberries) and the other were given the blueberry placebo. Blueberries were shown to improve cognition within a month and a half. 

There are more studies that encourage us to eat more berries and fruits (and of course vegetables), and this is the reason I have chosen to highlight our  Blueberry Extract with 12% Anthocyanins and No 7 Systemic Booster, filled with potent concentrations of fruit, berries, greens, and vegetables, with probiotics to aid the microbiome in their absorption. 

Enjoy! 

 Blueberry Extract

No 7 Systemic Booster

Yours as always,

Dohrea 

References

• Ellis, L. R., Boesch, C., & Dye, L. (2024). Effects of anthocyanins on cognition and vascular function: a systematic review. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 68(13), 2300502. Article
• Mayer, E. A., Horn, J., Mayer, D. E., & Randolph, E. (2024). Dietary Polyphenols to Maintain Healthier Brain Measures and Cognitive Function, as Mediated by Gut Microbiota Metabolites. In The Gut-Brain Axis (pp. 341-360). Academic Press. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978032399971700014X
• Miller, M. G., Hamilton, D. A., Joseph, J. A., & Shukitt-Hale, B. (2017). Dietary blueberry improves cognition among older adults in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. European Journal of Nutrition, 1-12.

Bibliography

• Joseph, J. A., Denisova, N., Fisher, D., Shukitt-Hale, B., Bickford, P., Prior, R., & Cao, G. (1998). Age-related neurodegeneration and oxidative stress: putative nutritional intervention. Neurologic clinics, 16(3), 747-755.
• Joseph, J. A., Denisova, N., Fisher, D., Shukitt‐Hale, B., Bickford, P., Prior, R., & Cao, G. (1998). Membrane and receptor modifications of oxidative stress vulnerability in aging: nutritional considerations. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 854(1), 268-276.
• Koudoufio, M., Desjardins, Y., Feldman, F., Spahis, S., Delvin, E., & Levy, E. (2020). Insight into polyphenol and gut microbiota crosstalk: are their metabolites the key to understand protective effects against metabolic disorders?. Antioxidants, 9(10), 982. Article
• Miller, M. G., Hamilton, D. A., Joseph, J. A., & Shukitt-Hale, B. (2018). Dietary blueberry improves cognition among older adults in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. European journal of nutrition, 57(3), 1169-1180.
• Sandhu, A., Miller, M. G., Shukitt-Hale, B., Edirisinghe, I., & Burton-Freeman, B. (2017). Metabolic Fate of Blueberry Anthocyanins after Chronic Supplementation in Healthy Older Adults. The FASEB Journal, 31(1 Supplement), 646-20.
• Shukitt-Hale, B., Bielinski, D. F., Lau, F. C., Willis, L. M., Carey, A. N., & Joseph, J. A. (2015). The beneficial effects of berries on cognition, motor behaviour and neuronal function in ageing. British Journal of Nutrition, 114(10), 1542-154.
• Shukitt-Hale, B. (2012). Blueberries and neuronal aging. Gerontology, 58, 518-523.

We have developed our products based on scientific research and/or the practical experience of many healthcare practitioners. There is a growing body of literature on food based nutrition and supplements and their application in support of our health. Please use our products under the advisement of your doctor.  

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