WHAT IS PEONIDIN?
Peonidin is one of the many anthocyanins that can be found in plant based foods and is part of the phytonutrient family (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health). In this article I will be discussing peonidin in greater detail.
WHEN WAS PEONIDIN DISCOVERED?
Peonidin was discovered in 1938 by the Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi as part of the flavonoid family. He initially referred to the flavonoids as vitamin P but it was later discovered that they are not essential to human health and therefore not technically vitamins.
HOW DOES YOUR BODY USE PEONIDIN?
Peonidin is a powerful antioxidant which protects your body from oxygen related damage. It also potentially has further health benefits. However, it is not yet clear how well the human body retains this nutrient so more research needs to be performed before these benefits can be confirmed. These potential health benefits of peonidin include:
– Possibly acting as an anti-inflammatory (a substance which prevents unnecessary inflammation in the body).
– Possibly preventing cancer (particularly breast cancer).
HOW MUCH PEONIDIN DO YOU NEED?
Peonidin is not considered an essential nutrient so no recommended daily allowance (RDA) has been established.
WHICH FOODS CONTAIN PEONIDIN?
Berries are often the richest source of peonidin but smaller amounts can be found in some fruits and vegetables. The table below lists some of the best peonidin foods:
| FOOD | MILLIGRAMS (MG) OF PEONIDIN PER 100 GRAMS (G) |
| Bilberries | 51.01 |
| Blueberries | 23.49 |
| Cherries | 4.47 |
| Cowpeas | 11.07 |
| Cranberries | 42.1 |
| Purple Plums | 5.21 |
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GETTING TOO MUCH PEONIDIN?
Currently there are no reported overdose symptoms associated with peonidin consumption.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF NOT GETTING ENOUGH PEONIDIN?
Peonidin is not classed as an essential nutrient so there are no reported deficiency symptoms associated with its consumption.
PEONIDIN SUMMARY
Although relatively little information is available on peonidin, the current research is very promising. It has been proven as a powerful antioxidant and may also have a role to play in fighting cancer and inflammation. So if you do not eat them already, start adding berries to your diet today. Not only will they provide you with high levels of peonidin but they are also rich in other health boosting nutrients.
Sources:
Anthocyanins (Suntava)
List of Phytochemicals in Food (Wikipedia)
What is Phytochemical? (Juicing For Health)
USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods