Flavonoids from chokeberry fruits (Aronia melanocarpa) reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease treated with statins

Recent studies have shown that chronic flavonoids treatment improves vascular function and cardiovascular remodeling by decreasing superoxide anion production as well as by increasing level NO derived from endothelial cells. Progressive decrease in systolic blood pressure and reduction of low-density lipoprotein oxidation (Ox-LDL) has also been reported. However, none of these studies has been done in patients with coronary artery disease treated with statins.

Ours was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial. Forty- four patients (11 women and 33 men, mean age 66 years) who had survived myocardial infarction and had received statin therapy for at least 6 months (80% dose of 40mg/day simvastatin) were included in the study. The subjects were randomized to receive either 3×85mg/day of chokeberry flavonoids extract (Aronia melanocarpa E) or placebo for a period of 6 weeks. The study extract was a commercially-available (OTC) product of the following declared composition: anthocyanins (about 25%), polymeric procyanidins (about 50%) and phenolic acids (about 9%). Compared to placebo (ANOVA and Tukey's test), flavonoids significantly reduced serum F2-isoprostans (p<.000) and ox-LDL levels (p<.000) (by 38% and 29%, respectively), as well as hsCRP (p<.007) and MCP-1 (p<.001) levels (by 23% and 29%, respectively). In addition, a significant increase in adiponectin (p<.03) levels and a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure by a mean average of 11 and 7.2mmHg, respectively, was observed.

In view of the fact that chokeberry flavonoids reduce the severity of inflammation, independently of statins treatment, they can be used clinically for secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease.