title: In vivo influence of extract from Aronia melanocarpa on the erythrocyte membranes in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypercholesterolemia increases cholesterol concentration in erythrocyte membranes, which results in decrease of membrane fluidity and decreases the deformability of red blood cells. The fruits of Arona melanocarpa contains many of polyphenols and other compounds that have beneficial health effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of 2-month supplementation of extract from Aronia melanocarpa (100 mg Aronox, three times per day) on cholesterol concentration, lipid peroxidation, membrane fluidity, level of thiol groups and activity of ATPase in erythrocytes from patients with hypercholesterolemia. The study involved 25 patients with hypercholesterolemia without pharmacological treatment and 20 healthy individuals as a control group. Blood samples were collected before, and after 1 and 2 months of Aronia administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2-month Aronia supplementation resulted in a decrease of cholesterol concentration (by 22%) and a decrease of lipid peroxidation (by 40%), and an increase of membrane fluidity. No statistically significant increase of the concentration of thiol groups and of ATPase activity were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that supplementation of extract from Aronia melanocarpa has a beneficial effect on rheological properties of erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment Pollution Biophysics, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. duchno@biol.uni.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duchnowicz
authors.forename: Agmieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowicka
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koter-Michalak
authors.forename: Marlena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broncel
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D046936:Photinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002784:Cholesterol; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases