Anthocyanins in Health and Disease

Anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors of many fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, and flowers. Interest in anthocyanin pigments has intensified because of their health benefits as dietary antioxidants. This book reviews the relationship of anthocyanins to human health and disease. It examines the bioavailability, chemistry, metabolism, and efficacy of anthocyanins, as well as their role in protecting the body from several age- and obesity-related chronic diseases. Diseases covered include GI tract cancer, metabolic syndrome, neuronal and cognitive dysfunction, immune dysfunction, eye disorders, and cardiovascular disease.

Taylor C. Wallace, Ph.D., CFS, FACN, is the senior director of Science, Policy, and Government Affairs at the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and the senior director of Scientific and Clinical Programs at the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA), a public–private partnership, managed and operated by the NOF. Dr. Wallace is responsible for ensuring that NOF’s scientific, legislative, and policy program is broad based, comprehensive, and evidence based, aimed at strengthening bone health, and decreasing the prevalence for osteoporosis by working with various key government agencies and scientific societies toward improving tests and therapies associated with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. He has produced over 20 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and is the coeditor of Anthocyanins in Health and Disease and the editor of Dietary Supplements in Health and Disease Prevention to be published in 2014.

M. Monica Giusti is an associate professor and graduate studies chair at the Food Science and Technology Department, the Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, Ohio and a visiting faculty of the Facultad de Industrias Alimentarias, Universidad Nacional Agraria, La Molina, Peru. Her research has focused on the chemistry and functionality of flavonoids, with strong emphasis on natural colorants and functional foods. Dr. Giusti has become a leading researcher in the field of anthocyanins with her work being cited over 1,500 times in a plethora of scientific publications. Dr. Giusti has 50 peer-reviewed publications and 20 book chapters, and has presented her research around the world at more than 100 national and international meetings, conferences, and workshops. She was granted a patent on the chemoprotective effects of anthocyanin-rich extracts, and has three additional patents pending in the field of anthocyanins.