title: Purified anthocyanin supplementation improves endothelial function via NO-cGMP activation in hypercholesterolemic individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anthocyanins have been shown to improve endothelial function in animal models. However, whether these compounds have similar beneficial effects in humans is largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a short-term crossover study, 12 hypercholesterolemic individuals were given oral anthocyanins (320 mg) isolated from berries or placebo. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed before and after the intervention. In a long-term intervention trial (12 weeks), 150 hypercholesterolemic individuals were given anthocyanins (320 mg/day, n = 75) or placebo (n = 75), after which we measured FMD, plasma cGMP, and other serum biomarkers. Another short-term intervention was conducted in the presence of NO-cGMP inhibitors in 6 people and in a rat aortic ring model (n = 8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant increases of FMD from 8.3% (0.6%) at baseline to 11.0% (0.8%) at 1 h and 10.1% (0.9%) at 2 h were observed after short-term anthocyanin consumption, concomitantly with increases of plasma anthocyanin concentrations (P < 0.05). In the study participants who received long-term anthocyanin intervention, compared with the control group, we observed significant increases in the FMD (28.4% vs 2.2%), cGMP (12.6% vs -1.2%), and HDL-cholesterol concentrations, but decreases in the serum soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 and LDL cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.05). The changes in the cGMP and HDL cholesterol concentrations positively correlated with FMD in the anthocyanin group (P < 0.05). In the presence of NO-cGMP inhibitors, the effects of anthocyanin on endothelial function were abolished in human participants and in a rat aortic ring model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anthocyanin supplementation improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic individuals. This effect involves activation of the NO-cGMP signaling pathway, improvements in the serum lipid profile, and decreased inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health, School of Public Health,SunYat-Sen University (Northern Campus), Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fengqiong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhongxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Mantian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Tianru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D031965:Ribes; D013997:Time Factors; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D006152:Cyclic GMP