Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Proanthocyanidins, a class of polyphenolic compounds found in foods such as grapes, berries, and cocoa, have been investigated for their potential benefits in Inflammatory Bowel Disorders (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Preclinical studies (primarily in animal models and cell cultures) suggest that proanthocyanidins may exert anti-inflammatory effects by modulating cytokine production, inhibiting NF-κB pathway activation, and reducing oxidative stress in the gut mucosa. Some animal studies have demonstrated that proanthocyanidin supplementation can decrease colonic inflammation and improve histopathological features in models of chemically induced colitis.

Despite these promising mechanisms and preclinical results, human data are very limited. There are few, if any, well-designed clinical trials specifically evaluating proanthocyanidins in patients with IBD. The majority of evidence is extrapolated from animal models or from epidemiological studies associating polyphenol-rich diets with lower incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases. As such, while there is a plausible scientific rationale and suggestive preclinical evidence, clinical efficacy in IBD remains unproven. Thus, proanthocyanidins should not be considered a stand-alone or primary therapy for IBD, but may be of adjunctive interest pending further human studies.

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