The VALID project aims to validate plasma valerolactones as stable biomarkers of catechin- and procyanidin- rich foods and to demonstrate their association with markers of metabolic health, inflammation and cognitive function in an older European population, building upon the existing TUDA study of 5,186 older adults. The VALID project has 5 objectives, to evaluate:

1. Plasma PVLs as nutritional biomarkers representing catechin and proanthocyanidin-rich diets


2. Association of PVLs with cognitive health in ageing


3. Role of polyphenol-rich foods in preventing cognitive decline over a 5-year period


4. Relationship of PVLs with biomarkers of inflammation


5. Relationships of nutrition and health with the physical and social environments in order to assess the extent to which socioeconomic factors are associated with dietary behaviour, nutrition and cognitive performance.

Results: The data analysis is still ongoing, but the novel findings so far suggest that plasma PVLs are reliable biomarkers of polyphenol rich foods and may be beneficial to cognitive health, underpinned by important socioeconomic factors. Ongoing data analysis will include investigation of PVLs as modulators of inflammation, providing a potential mechanism linking dietary polyphenols with cognitive function in older adults. In relation to the analysis of PVLs and related dietary polyphenols, the results showed that of the 9 PVLs quantified in TUDA samples, 3 plasma fractions were identified as being predominant: 5-(4´-Hydroxyphenyl)-γ-VL-3´-sulfate isomers followed by 5-(4´-Hydroxyphenyl)-γ-VL-3´-glucuronide and its isomer 5-(5´-Hydroxyphenyl)-γ-VL-3´-glucuronide. These PVLs were significantly correlated with dietary polyphenol intakes and may be reliable biomarkers of flavan-3-ol-rich foods. In relation to cognitive health, the results showed that PVLs concentrations were significantly lower in older adults with cognitive dysfunction compared to age- sex-matched participants with normal cognitive function. Using Geographic Information Science (GIS) technologies to integrate nutrition with environmental and socioeconomic data, the results showed that the area in which a person lives (particularly area-based deprivation), and the nature/distribution of food outlets (‘Foodscapes’) determining access to healthy versus unhealthy foods, may have important influences on food consumption, nutrition and health.

Expected impacts

• The project results will contribute to ageing research internationally and ultimately the evidence needed to underpin future policies based on effective nutritional strategies to promote better health in ageing in the European Union.


• The use of GIS technologies developed in this project can significantly add value to ageing research through enabling the integration of individual level nutritional information with environmental and socioeconomic data, thereby allowing potential health inequalities to be explored.

Most important results from the VALID project:

• The findings are novel and suggest that plasma phenyl-γ-valerolactones are reliable biomarkers of polyphenol rich food consumption and may be beneficial to cognitive health in older adults.


• Access to healthy versus unhealthy food types and sources may influence dietary behaviours, food purchasing/consumption habits and, as a result, the health of older people.


• The project results will contribute to ageing research internationally and ultimately the evidence needed to underpin future policies based on effective nutritional strategies to promote better health in ageing in the European Union in a number of ways.


• The use of GIS technologies developed and applied in this project can significantly add value to ageing research through the spatial integration of individual level nutritional information with environmental and socioeconomic data, thereby allowing potential health inequalities in ageing to be explored.

Publication and Event highlights from the VALID project:

• Published article, 2020: Angelino D, Caffrey A, Moore KM et al. Phenyl-γ-valerolactones and healthy ageing: linking dietary factors, nutrient biomarkers, metabolic status and inflammation with cognition in older adults (The VALID Project). Nutrition Bulletin 2020: 1-8. doi: 10.1111/nbu.12444


• Published article, 2019: In conjunction with its sister project - ‘DERiVE’ (both funded under the same JPI ERA-HDHL 2017 co-funded call "Biomarkers for Nutrition and Health"), - an IMPACT article co-written by the two Project Coordinators, Prof Helene McNulty and Prof Mary Ward, was published to profile the VALID and DERiVE projects. Impact 2018 (10): 1-4. doi: 10.21820/23987073.2018.10.83. This publication, highlighting both JPI HDHL projects, has been disseminated widely to a wide range of stakeholders internationally and through project websites: www.jpi-valid.com and www.derive-riboflavn.com.

• International Event, Dublin Ireland, 2019: The consortia for the VALID and DERiVE projects co-hosted a scientific symposium both JPI HDHL projects at the Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS) 13th European Nutrition Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 15-18 October 2019, entitled 'Validating novel biomarkers of dietary exposure to Riboflavin and Polyphenols and associated health impacts: Transnational DERiVE and VALID projects'. At this joint symposium, Prof Daniele Del Rio (VALID project PI from the University of Parma Italy) gave a presentation on 'Dietary polyphenols, circulating valerolactones and cognitive health in older Europeans - The VALID Project' and Prof Adrian Moore (VALID project co-investigator from Ulster University, NI, UK) presented on 'Understanding and promoting cognitive health in ageing through integration of dietary information with physical and social environments in the VALID project'. The symposium was very well received and generated a high degree of active participation from the scientific audience comprised of FENS conference delegates.