The effect of an apple polyphenol extract rich in epicatechin and flavan-3-ol oligomers on brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatory function in volunteers with elevated blood pressure

Nutrition Journal

Research

Jouni Junnila¹  Mika Scheinin²  Jussi Lehto²  Zsófia Lovró²  Anneli Tarpila³  Markus J. Lehtinen³  Kirsti Tiihonen³  Oliver Hasselwander⁴  Pia Salo⁵  Maria Saarenhovi⁶  Olli T. Raitakari⁶ 

[1] 4Pharma Ltd, Turku, Finland;Clinical Research Services Turku (CRST), University of Turku, and Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland;DuPont, Nutrition and Health, Kantvik, Finland;DuPont, Nutrition and Health, Reigate, UK;Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland;Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland;Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, P.O. Box 52, FI-20521, Turku, Finland;

关键词: Epicatechin;    Flavonoids;    Flavanol-3-ols;    Endothelial function;    Vasodilatory function;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12937-017-0291-0

 received in 2017-03-15, accepted in 2017-09-27,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe primary aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that an orally ingested apple polyphenol extract rich in epicatechin and flavan-3-ol oligomers improves endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) in volunteers with borderline hypertension. The secondary aim of the study was to test whether the investigational product would improve endothelium-independent nitrate-mediated vasodilatation (NMD).MethodsThis was a single centre, repeated-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 60 otherwise healthy subjects (26 men, 34 women; aged 40-65 years) with borderline hypertension (blood pressure 130-139/85-89 mmHg) or unmedicated mild hypertension (blood pressure 140-165/90-95 mmHg). The subjects were randomised to receive placebo or the apple polyphenol extract to provide a daily dose of 100 mg epicatechin for 4 weeks, followed by a four to five-week wash-out period, and then 4 weeks intake of the product that they did not receive during the first treatment period. FMD and NMD of the left brachial artery were investigated with ultrasonography at the start and end of both treatment periods, and the per cent increase of the arterial diameter (FMD% and NMD%) was calculated.ResultsWith the apple extract treatment, a significant acute improvement was detected in the mean change of maximum FMD% at the first visit 1.16 (p = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.04; 2.28), last visit 1.37 (p = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.22; 2.52) and for both visits combined 1.29 (p < 0.01, 95% CI: 0.40; 2.18). However, such improvement was not statistically significant when apple extract was compared with placebo. The overall long-term effect of apple extract on FMD% was not different from placebo. No statistically significant differences between the apple extract and placebo treatments were observed for endothelium-independent NMD.ConclusionsA significant acute improvement in maximum FMD% with apple extract administration was found. However, superiority of apple extract over placebo was not statistically significant in our study subjects with borderline hypertension or mild hypertension. The study raised no safety concerns regarding the daily administration of an apple polyphenol extract rich in epicatechin.Trial registrationThe trial is registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT01690676). Registered 25th May 2012.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017