Abstract
Plant polyphenols represent common component of food of plant origin. These substances manifest significant health favourable effects.
Therefore the total amount and the qualitative spectrum of the broad group of phenolics in our diet is of interest and should be estimated. In this article the total amount of polyphenols and the distribution of main subclasses in average Czech diet were determined and compared with those in another countries.
As a source of desirable data the report of the Czech statistical Office (2013) concerning year average food consumption in Czech population and the data from Phenol Explorer database were applied. The total polyphenol intake was 418 mg/head and day.
Phenolic acids and flavones were prevailing subclasses (35 resp. 21 % of total) whereas the uptake of remaining flavonoids was rather low. In comparison with dietary pattern in the other countries of EU the proportion of flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, flavanones and isoflavonoids in the Czech diet seems to be unsufficient.
The consumption of coloured berries, coffee, cocoa and cocoa products, whole grain cereals and pulses should be supported and increased. Varied plant food should be prefered over the dietary polyphenol supplements.