Yerba Mate (Ilex Paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.): Assessment of Cardiovascular Health

Mate or yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) is a native plant from South America highly consumed in this region. Different traditional products (mate, mate tea, chimarrao, tereré) are obtained from the yerba-mate leaves and consumed as herbal tea. Mate is a rich source of bioactive phenolic compounds, mainly caffeoylquinic acids. The richness of different mono- and dicaffeoylquinic acids is a peculiarity of mate derived products. However, in contrast to other plant-based beverages rich in polyphenols like tea or coffee, the research and the industry have yet little explored the potential interest of mate product to promote human health. There has been a growing interest to the development of healthier foods to face the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), especially those naturally rich in bioactive phenolic compounds with protective effects against the development of chronic diseases. Different in vitro and animals studies associate the mate consumption with cardiovascular protection mechanisms. Consistent information about this activity and the long-term consumption effects in humans are scarce. The aim of this study is to assess through a randomized controlled trial the impact of chronic intake of mate on intermediate biomarkers of cardiovascular health in humans and to identify possible involved nutrigenomic mechanisms.