People who regularly consume foods and drinks rich in polyphenols—such as tea, coffee, berries, cocoa, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil—may benefit from better long-term heart health. New research suggests that consistent intake of these plant compounds is linked to lower cardiovascular risk as people age, strengthening evidence that everyday dietary choices can play an essential role in protecting the heart.
The study, led by researchers at King’s College London, found that individuals who most closely adhered to polyphenol-rich dietary patterns had a lower predicted risk of cardiovascular disease. Those with greater adherence to these eating habits consistently showed more favourable long-term heart health than participants whose diets contained fewer polyphenol-rich foods.
Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in a wide range of plant-based foods and are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They have previously been linked to benefits for heart, brain, and gut health. These protective effects are likely due to their ability to reduce inflammation, support blood vessel function, and influence cholesterol metabolism.
Published in BMC Medicine, the study followed more than 3,100 adults from the TwinsUK cohort for over a decade. The researchers observed that diets rich in specific groups of polyphenols were associated with healthier blood pressure levels and more balanced cholesterol profiles. These factors contributed to lower overall cardiovascular disease risk scores throughout the follow-up period.
For the first time in this kind of research, the team also analysed a wide range of urinary metabolites produced when the body breaks down polyphenols. These biological markers provided objective confirmation of dietary intake. Participants with higher levels of polyphenol metabolites—particularly those linked to flavonoids and phenolic acids—had lower cardiovascular risk scores and higher levels of HDL, or ‘good’, cholesterol.
To better reflect real-world diets, the researchers developed a new polyphenol dietary score (PPS) that captures intake from 20 key polyphenol-rich foods commonly consumed in the UK. This included tea, coffee, berries, olive oil, nuts, and whole grains. The PPS showed stronger links with cardiovascular health than estimates of total polyphenol intake alone, suggesting that overall dietary patterns offer a more accurate picture than focusing on individual compounds. This finding supports the idea that whole foods work together to deliver long-term health benefits.
Professor Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, senior author and Professor of Human Nutrition at King’s College London, said the findings demonstrate how sustained dietary habits can significantly influence cardiovascular ageing. She noted that even small but consistent shifts towards polyphenol-rich foods may meaningfully slow the rise in heart disease risk over time. Dr Yong Li, the study’s first author, added that regularly including these foods in the diet is a simple and accessible strategy for supporting heart health, as polyphenols are already present in many everyday foods.
The researchers also emphasised that although cardiovascular risk naturally increases with age, higher polyphenol intake was associated with a slower progression of cardiovascular risk over the 11-year study period. They highlighted the need for further dietary intervention studies to confirm these findings and strengthen understanding of how polyphenol-rich diets may contribute to long-term cardiovascular prevention.
More information: Yong Li et al, Higher adherence to (poly)phenol-rich diet is associated with lower CVD risk in the TwinsUK cohort, BMC Medicine. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-025-04481-5
Journal information: BMC Medicine Provided by King’s College London
