UC Davis

Fruits play a significant role in human nutrition, since they are good to excellent sources of vitamins, dietary fibers, and phytonutrients such as polyphenols and carotenoids. While many fruits have a long history of use as traditional remedies in cultures worldwide, scientific evidence to help explain the biochemistry, physiology and nutrition affected by these foods has only started to emerge in the last few decades. Although phytonutrients currently have no specific dietary intake recommendations, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines 2020-2025 recommend at least two daily servings for adults.Epidemiological studies have shown that the regular consumption of fruits is associated with decreased risk for many age-related chronic conditions including cardiovascular and certain eye diseases. However, epidemiological data is observational and does not inform about cause-and-effect relationships. Cellular, animal and a limited number of human studies provide intriguing evidence regarding the potential health benefits of certain classes of phytonutrients, for instance, the protective effects of carotenoids on age-related macular degeneration and flavanols on vascular diseases. However, more clinical studies are needed to better clarify these relationships. This dissertation explores the role of select phytonutrient-rich fruits on two aspects of the aging process. Mango is a tropical fruit that has been used in traditional remedies in multiple tropical regions worldwide. Based on its use history and unique polyphenol profile, the fruit may be useful to support cardiovascular health. Goji berry has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than two thousand years for its “eye-brightening”. Chapter I summarizes the evidence about mango and goji berry, as well as blueberry and cocoa, as phytonutrient-rich fruits with potential cardiovascular and eye health benefits. Chapter II is a published clinical trial that investigated the effects of dried goji berry intake on macular pigment optical density and skin carotenoids in healthy middle-aged individuals. Chapter III explores the role of mango intake on markers related to cardiovascular function in postmenopausal women. Chapter IV is a detailed review about the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in age-related macular degeneration, the importance of these two carotenoids in maternal and infant health and concludes with a focus on goji berries as a potential dietary source to benefit eye health. Finally, a summary of this work and a discussion about future research directions is presented in Chapter V.