###### Abstract  
Research data indicate the possible effect of both polyphenols consumption and Mediterranean diet adherence on metabolic diseases' prevalence. The present retrospective study investigated the possible association of polyphenols mean daily intake with Mediterranean diet adherence and anthropometric indices in a sample of the Greek population. A total of 250 healthy volunteers, aged between 18 and 65 years, were randomly recruited from central and northern Greece. Total daily polyphenols intake was estimated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) based on the NHANES study, while Med Diet Score was used for the degree of Mediterranean diet adoption. Daily polyphenols intake was identified by the Phenol Explorer database, and anthropometric measurements (BMI, waist-to-hip circumference, and body composition) were performed. The mean daily polyphenols intake was determined to be 1905 mg, while most of the participants had moderate or high mean consumption last year (67.5% of the sample were consuming more than 1000 mg/d). Moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet (higher Med Diet Score) was associated with increased mean daily polyphenols intake (\(p\) = 0.016). Increased polyphenols intake and higher Med Diet Score were associated with decreased waist-to-hip circumference (\(p\) = 0.027, 0.004, respectively). Specific functional foods rich in polyphenols, such as sour cherry, tomatoes, black tea, and cocoa were associated with improved body composition indices. Larger epidemiological studies need to be performed for safer conclusions about whole population polyphenols intake and its association with metabolic disease biomarkers. p 2021 2021 17 May 2021 19 May 2021 18 April 2021 17 May 2  
appears to be highly variable, and there is little evidence to suggest a definite influence of polyphenols on human health [2]. Polypphenols' bioaccessibility and bioavailability depend on various parameters, including food structure, genetic variations, and interactions with meal components [15; 16]. In addition, the final bioaccessible polyphenol amount in the small intestine is estimated to be below 50% [17]. Hence, the establishment of dietary reference intake for polyphenols is difficult and has not yet performed [2]. However, several studies have investigated polyphenols intake in different populations, by using 24-recalls or semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires and polyphenols databases [16; 17; 18; 19]. For example, the average daily intake of polyphenols in the Spanish diet is around 3000 mg/person/day [16], although the PREDIMED research of 7000 Spanish people found total phenols intake to be 820 \(\pm\) 323 mg per day, with flavonoids and phenolic acids being the most abundant components [18]. In France, the total polyphenol intake in 4000 adults is estimated at 1193 \(\pm\) 510 mg/d [17], and in Poland at 1756.5 \(\pm\) 695.8 mg/d [19]. In Greece, there is not adequate data about polyphenols consumption, and the present study is one of the few studies that investigate the mean polyphenols intake in a subgroup of the population. In addition, investigation of possible correlations between a variety of natural functional foods from the Mediterranean diet with mean polyphenols intake is of high importance for the further understanding of the possible bioactivity of polyphenols in a balanced diet. In Mediterranean countries, the main dietary sources of polyphenols are olives, olive oils, fruits, vegetables, and coffee [18]. The Mediterranean diet has been studied as a possible protective parameter for chronic disease prevention. Many studies have concluded that a lot of natural functional foods from the Mediterranean diet, containing polyphenols and other phytochemicals, may have protective effects against atherosclerotic processes, obesity, gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, and other pathologies [20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25].