Flavanol / Polyphenol

Flavanols (also called flavan-3-ols) are a subclass of polyphenols — plant-derived secondary metabolites with antioxidant activity. The most relevant flavanols in the YNP catalogue context are epicatechin and catechin, found in cocoa powder (Section 72) and associated with the cardiovascular health evidence for cocoa flavanols (EFSA health claim; COSMOS-Cocoa RCT 2022). Polyphenols as a broader class include flavanols, flavonoids, resveratrol, and others — they are not vitamins or minerals but are increasingly studied for health effects.