Formica J V, Regelson W
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0678, USA.
Food Chem Toxicol. 1995 Dec;33(12):1061-80. doi: 10.1016/0278-6915(95)00077-1.
The French paradox is a dietary anomaly which has focused attention on the Mediterranean diet. Epidemiological studies revealed that this diet, replete in flavonoid-rich foods (Allium and Brassica vegetables, and red wine), correlated with the increased longevity and decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease seen in these populations. The most frequently studied flavonoid, quercetin, has been shown to have biological properties consistent with its sparing effect on the cardiovascular system. Quercetin and other flavonoids have been shown to modify eicosanoid biosynthesis (antiprostanoid and anti-inflammatory responses), protect low-density lipoprotein from oxidation (prevent atherosclerotic plaque formation), prevent platelet aggregation (antithrombic effects), and promote relaxation of cardiovascular smooth muscle (antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic effects). In addition, flavonoids have been shown to have antiviral and carcinostatic properties. However, flavonoids are poorly absorbed from the gut and are subject to degradation by intestinal micro-organisms. The amount of quercetin that remains biologically available may not be of sufficient concentration, theoretically, to explain the beneficial effects seen with the Mediterranean diet. The role of flavonoids may transcend their presence in food. The activity of flavonoids as inhibitors of reverse transcriptase suggests a place for these compounds in the control of retrovirus infections, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition to specific effects, the broad-modulating effects of flavonoids as antioxidants, inhibitors of ubiquitous enzymes (ornithine carboxylase, protein kinase, calmodulin), and promoters of vasodilatation and platelet disaggregation can serve as starting material for drug development programmes.
法国悖论是一种饮食异常现象，它使人们将注意力集中在地中海饮食上。流行病学研究表明，这种富含类黄酮的食物（葱属和十字花科蔬菜以及红酒）的饮食，与这些人群中观察到的寿命延长和心血管疾病发病率降低相关。研究最频繁的类黄酮槲皮素，已被证明具有与其对心血管系统的保护作用相一致的生物学特性。槲皮素和其他类黄酮已被证明可改变类花生酸生物合成（抗前列腺素和抗炎反应）、保护低密度脂蛋白免受氧化（防止动脉粥样硬化斑块形成）、防止血小板聚集（抗血栓作用）以及促进心血管平滑肌松弛（抗高血压、抗心律失常作用）。此外，类黄酮已被证明具有抗病毒和抗癌特性。然而，类黄酮从肠道的吸收很差，并且会被肠道微生物降解。从理论上讲，仍具有生物活性的槲皮素的量可能不足以解释地中海饮食所带来的有益效果。类黄酮的作用可能超越其在食物中的存在。类黄酮作为逆转录酶抑制剂的活性表明这些化合物在控制逆转录病毒感染（如获得性免疫缺陷综合征，即艾滋病）方面有一席之地。除了特定作用外，类黄酮作为抗氧化剂、普遍存在的酶（鸟氨酸羧化酶、蛋白激酶、钙调蛋白）的抑制剂以及血管舒张和血小板解聚促进剂的广泛调节作用，可以作为药物开发项目的起始材料。
