ReviewProanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and cardiovascular diseases

- Most fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids.
- Natural, preventative and cost-effective medicine is vital.
- Regular flavonoid consumption is associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality.

Fruit and vegetable flavonoids, including proanthocyanidins, anthocyanidins to an extent and anthocyanins (anthocyanidins with sugar moieties attached to the hydroxyl groups) are found in reasonably high quantities in cocoa, berries, cinnamon and red grapes and have proved to be protective against many cardiovascular risk factors. After summarising the biokinetic properties of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, we review basic science and clinical evidence for the effectiveness of these flavonoids against cardiovascular disease and discuss the possible mechanisms of action and cellular signalling pathways involved in this effect.