Flavonoids and related compounds : bioavailability and functions

Flavonoids exert a multiplicity of biological effects on humans and can have beneficial implications for numerous disease states. Flavonoids and Related Compounds: Bioavailability and Function examines current knowledge regarding the absorption, metabolism, and bioavailability of individual flavonoids and related phenolic compounds. Profiling the latest evidence of their impact on various human pathological conditions, the book summarizes current thinking with regard to the biotransformation and conjugation of individual compounds in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, large intestine, and cells. It highlights a topic that has been largely ignored-namely the extent to which dietary phenolics components undergo metabolism in the large intestine. It also explores the generation of bacterially derived metabolites. Individual chapters discuss which metabolites enter the circulatory system and are likely to offer protective actions against human diseases. Edited by internationally recognized leaders in the field, the book presents contributions by a panel of experts who demonstrate the potential of flavonoids in ameliorating a range of disease states, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. The research presented in this volume provides a reliable starting point for further inquiry and experimentation.