Rosa Lamuela Raventos

She is Full Professor of Nutrition and Food Science at University of Barcelona and ICREA Academia.

She has been one of the most influential scientists in the world according the Highly Cited Researchers list, published by Clarivate Analytics, during five consecutive years, since 2017. She has published 403 do and her h-index in Google Scholar is 120.

She is the leader of the Polyphenol Research Group (www.polyphenolresearch.com). Her research group has been recognized as a consolidated group by the Generalitat de Catalunya Science Ministries. She also leads a CIBEROBN (ciberobn.es) research group since 2012.

She has been the Director of the Research Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA-UB) since 2015 to 2023, that it has been recognized as Maria de Maeztu excellent unit in 2022.

She was been awarded with the XXV Premio Instituto Danone a la Trayectoria Científica “Dr. Carles Martí Henneberg” in December 2018 and by the Research.com, as the Third Best Spanish Female Scientist Award, in 2022.

Dr. Lamuela-Raventos is the principal investigator of the research group “Natural Antioxidants: Polyphenols” and leads one of CIBEROBN’s investigation groups.

She is involved in important national and international projects related to the nutritional interest of bioactive compounds present in food and natural products and their impact on health.

Polyphenols – the magic bullets in foods?

Rosa M Lamuela Raventós^1,2, Inés Domínguez-López^1,2, Polina Galkina^1,2, Anna Vallverdú-Queralt^1,2 and Maria Pérez^1,2

¹Polyphenol Research Group, Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l’Alimentació i Gastronomía, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Av. de Joan XXII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona. Institut de Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Spain.

²Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBn), Instituto de Salud Carlos II (ISCIII), Madrid, España.

Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found abundantly in a variety of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, tea, coffee, red wine, and dark chocolate. They have garnered significant attention for their potential health benefits, particularly concerning their role in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Polyphenols also play a crucial role in modulating inflammation. Chronic inflammation is involved in the development of various health conditions, including those associated with aging, as well as heart disease and diabetes. In addition, polyphenols, known for their neuroprotective properties, are gaining research attention for their potential to enhance cognitive health by improving brain blood flow and reducing inflammation. To reap the benefits of polyphenols, it is essential to include a diverse range of plant-based foods in the diet, as encourage by the Mediterranean diet, in which extra virgin olive oil, fruits and vegetables, wine, and legumes are excellent sources. By incorporating polyphenol-rich foods into our daily diets, we can harness their protective properties against chronic diseases, promote overall wellness, and enhance our quality of life.