title: Anthocyanin-rich Aronia melanocarpa extract improves body temperature maintenance in healthy women with a cold constitution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Specific anthocyanin-rich dietary factors have been shown to improve metabolic functions associated with thermogenesis in animal studies. Aronia melanocarpa, commonly known as wild chokeberry, contains a high level of anthocyanin that would be expected to maintain body temperature through thermogenesis. We here investigated the effects of Aronia melanocarpa extracts on body temperature and peripheral blood flow in healthy women with a cold constitution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre/post comparison trial was performed in 11 women with a cold constitution, who were taking Aronia melanocarpa extracts (150 mg/day) for 4 weeks. Physiological and biochemical parameters, along with psychological tests were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects' body surface temperature was significantly higher in the post-trial than in the pre-trial. In psychological tests, factors related to cold were significantly improved by Aronia intake. On the other hand, peripheral blood flow was not affected by Aronia supplementation. Plasma noradrenalin level was significantly elevated by Aronia intake, and subjects with a higher level of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in the pre-trial showed decreased levels in the post-trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that dietary Aronia melanocarpa extract improves the maintenance of body temperature in healthy women with a cold constitution, which may be mediated by noradrenalin and oxidative stress levels.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Gingko Group Co., Ltd, 3F-KeHaiFulin Building, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No.12, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing, Haidian District China.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sonoda
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Aoi
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Anthocyanin; Blood flow; Body surface temperature; Cold feeling; Thermogenesis