Chokeberry Juice and Lipid Metabolism

February 3/Wroclaw, Poland/Journal of Farming -- According to recent research from Wroclaw, Poland, "The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of drinking chokeberry juice on the endothelial function in men with mild hypercholesterolemia. It was shown that chronic treatment with flavonoids improves vascular function and reduces cardiovascular remodelling by increasing nitric oxide release from endothelial cells."

"A group of 35 men diagnosed with mild hypercholesterolemia (mean age: 53.9 +/- 5.8 years), with no earlier pharmacological treatment, were enrolled to the study. In all men, assessment of endothelial function, and serum lipids level were carried out at four time points: at the beginning of the studies, after six weeks of regular drinking of chokeberry juice, after six weeks without drinking the juice, then after a repeated six weeks of drinking chokeberry juice.

"During the study, significant decreases in serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels were observed. A statistically significant increase in serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration and in the flow mediated dilatation (FMD) were observed. At the beginning, FMD >= 7% was present in 13 of 35 Subjects (37.1%). After six weeks of regular chokeberry juice drinking, FMD >= 7% was present in 29 of 35 subjects (82.9%). However, after six weeks abstaining from drinking the juice and repeated exposure to six weeks drinking of chokeberry juice, FMD >= 7% was present in all Studied subjects," wrote R. Poreba and colleagues, Medical Academy.

The researchers concluded, "Regular drinking of chokeberry juice has a beneficial effect oil endothelial Function and lipid metabolism in men with mild hypercholesterolemia."

Poreba and colleagues published their study in Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine ("Drinking of Chokeberry Jucie from the Ecological Farm Dzieciolowo and Distensibility of Brachial Artery in Men with Mild Hypercholesterolemia." Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine.

For additional information, contact R. Poreba, Medical Academy Wroclaw, Dept. of Internal Medicine & Hypertension, Pasteur 4, PL-50367 Wroclaw, Poland.

From the February 15, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition