SELECTED PLANT-DERIVED POLYPHENOLS IN THE PREVENTION OF CIVILIZATION DISEASES: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND NUTRITION EDUCATION

Abstract

Civilization diseases — including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and selected cancers — are non-communicable conditions closely tied to modern lifestyle patterns, and they account for a substantial share of premature mortality worldwide. A growing body of evidence indicates that dietary polyphenols, a broad group of plant secondary metabolites, may play a meaningful role in the prevention of these conditions. This article presents a narrative review of the literature on the classification, dietary sources, and physiological activity of the main polyphenol subgroups — flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and lignans — and synthesizes evidence on their preventive potential in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Amaranth is discussed as an illustrative example of a polyphenol-rich functional food. The review further considers the practical implications of this evidence for nutrition and health education, arguing that translating polyphenol research into accessible dietary guidance is an important, and currently underused, tool of non-communicable disease prevention. The findings support the inclusion of plant-based, polyphenol-rich dietary patterns in public health and patient education programs, while noting that most available evidence remains observational or preclinical and that further controlled clinical research is warranted.