Polyphenols in Foods and Dietary Supplements: Role in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

This review discusses the potential uses of several polyphenol substances in veterinary medicine and promoting animal health. Polyphenols are usually found in natural foods that are either plant products themselves or of plant origin. Some of these plant products that contain notable amounts of polyphenol compounds include fruits, vegetables, and teas. Consequently, an increase in some of these plant products in animals' diets might improve health and have a number of other beneficial consequences (Zloch Z. The role of dietary plant polyphenols in health maintenance. Cas Lek Cesk. 1996;. 135(3):84-8). In recent years, research has been performed on dietary polyphenols that supports the role of polyphenols in preventing degenerative diseases and shows that they have significant antioxidant properties. Observations have been made that show these compounds have the ability to help treat cardiovascular diseases, cancers, inflammation, pain, obesity, osteoporosis, as well as several neurodegenerative diseases and a number of other ailments (Scalbert A, Johnson IT, Saltmarsh M. Polyphenols: antioxidants and beyond. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;. 81(suppl):215S-217S). Thus, polyphenols have the potential to be integrated into veterinary practice and used to promote animal health.