Dietary supplements: Anti-coagulatory and anti-oxidative effects of powdered fruit, vegetable and berry juice powder concentrates.

Introduction Micronutrients are involved in many important functions of the human body and an adequate intake is necessary for optimal health. They could be supplied either by the intake of food or through supplements. The aim of this in-vitro study was to examine the anti-coagulatory as well as the anti-oxidative properties of four supplements, namely a fruit, a vegetable and a berry powder concentrate, and a powder concentrate containing a combination of the three (FVB).

Method Dried extracts were resuspended with NaCl solution, left in an ultrasonic bath, rotated for 30 min in a rotary shaker, and centrifuged. Their anti-oxidative properties were estimated via their capability to attenuate the Cu²⁺-induced oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The anti-coagulatory properties of the concentrates were estimated via thrombelastometry (TEM) and platelet aggregation measurements, performed in whole blood samples. Thrombin generation was assessed by using calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT).

Results The berry concentrate most efficiently impeded the Cu²⁺-induced LDL oxidation and thus, possessed the highest antioxidant capacity, followed by the FVB concentrate. The vegetable and fruit concentrates had only low antioxidant capacities. Correspondingly, the berry concentrate exerted the most efficient anticoagulant action: The TEM-value “Coagulation time” was significantly prolonged from 218±18 to 249±23 s (P=0.017). Moreover, the Impedance Aggregation value “Amplitude” was significantly decreased from 13±1.7 to 4.3±1.5 ohm (P=0.017) by the berry concentrate. CAT measurements revealed that the berry concentrate is able to inhibit the thrombin activity in plasma samples. The fruit, vegetable, as well as the FVB concentrate affected all the coagulation parameters to a much lesser degree.

Conclusion Our in-vitro study indicates that particularly the berry concentrate has potent anti-coagulatory as well as anti-oxidative properties. We have therefore launched a randomized, controlled, open-labelled, parallel-grouped, clinical trial to investigate the anti-oxidative and anti-coagulatory effects of the four concentrates in 112 elderly individuals [1].

Publication History

Article published online:
26 February 2024

• References

• 1 Tsiountsioura M, Cvirn G, Meixner-Goetz L, Ziegler T, Lamprecht M.. Effects of long-term consumption of two plant-based dietary supplements on cardiovascular health and low-grade inflammation in middle-aged and elderly people: study protocol for a randomised, controlled trial. J Health Popul Nutr 2023; 42 (01) 100 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-023-00434-x.