Dietary Intake of Plant Bioactives.

Annu Rev Nutr 2026 May 13. [Online ahead of print]AR

This review provides a comprehensive overview of dietary plant bioactive intake among populations. Plant-based diets are rich in bioactive phytochemicals such as (poly)phenols, carotenoids, alkaloids, glucosinolates, and many other molecules scarcely assessed. Despite the recognized health benefits attributed to most phytochemicals, there is a considerable lack of information on the intake of these food bioactives across different populations. When available, data indicate that the intake of plant bioactives may be influenced by factors such as dietary habits, age, sex/gender, ethnicity, and cultural practices. Most information available regards (poly)phenols and carotenoids, as well as some specific compounds of interest because of commercial or safety aspects. This work represents a pioneering effort to compile comprehensive data on the intake of dietary plant bioactives, thereby contributing to the body of scientific knowledge and informing future research on these dietary components of nutritional interest.