Major Classes of Phytonutriceuticals in Vegetables and Health Benefits: A Review

Abstract

Vegetables are essential for well-balanced diets since they supply phytonutriceuticals. About 3 billion people in the world are malnourished due to imbalanced diets. Regular consumption of a vegetable rich diet has undeniable effects on health since they have been strongly associated with improvement of gastrointestinal health, good vision, and reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, chronic diseases such as diabetes, and some forms of cancer. The mechanism by which vegetables decrease risk of disease is complex and largely unknown. Some phytochemicals of vegetables are strong antioxidants and are thought to reduce the risk of chronic disease by protecting against free radical damage, by modifying metabolic activation and detoxification of carcinogens, or even by influencing processes that alter the course of tumor cells. The dietary fiber content and type of different vegetables may also contribute to the overall health benefit. Each vegetable contains a unique combination of phytonutriceuticals. A great diversity of vegetables should be eaten to ensure that individual's diet includes a combination of phytonutriceuticals and to get all the health benefits.

Guiding strategies for breeding vegetable cultivars

“…Vegetables are grown worldwide in almost 200 countries and make up a major portion of the diet of humans in many parts of the world and play a significant role in human nutrition, especially as sources of vitamins (C, A, B1, B6, B9, E), minerals, dietary fiber and phytochemicals [1]. They can be also a major source of protein for the poor.…”

“…"Hidden hunger" or micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies is a pernicious problem around the world that is caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iodine and iron in the human diet. It affects the health of between 2 and 3.5 billion people in the developing world and increases the risk of illness or death from infectious diseases and children do not develop to their full physical or mental potential [1,2]. In much of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, dietary deficiencies of iron and vitamin A are major health problems, resulting in millions of deaths each year.…”

“…More than half of these are found in South and East Asia and under a third in Africa [4]. Vitamin A deficiency is a major cause of blindness and weakened resistance to disease, resulting in the deaths of up to 3 million children each year [1][2][3]. In Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines at least half of the preschool children and pregnant women are affected by micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies [5].…”

“…Various components of the whole food are likely to contribute to the overall health benefit. Various phytonutriceuticals with antioxidant properties may work directly by quenching free radicals or indirectly by participating in cell signaling pathways sensitive to redox balance [1,2]. Nutrients such as potassium contribute to blood pressure regulation.…”

“…Nutrients such as potassium contribute to blood pressure regulation. The dietary fiber content and type of different vegetables may also contribute to the overall health benefit, such as improving bowel transit, lowering cholesterol, helping manage blood glucose concentrations, and by transporting a significant amount of minerals and phytochemicals linked to the fibre matrix through the human gut [1]. Finaly, increaseing vegetables in the diet may reduce the intake of saturated fats, trans fats, and foods with higher caloric density, all of which may be related to a healthier overall diet [1].…”