Alarming statistics on cardiovascular health
This new research is part of an overall rise in the number of studies being conducted on cardiovascular health. Why the increase? Because it is one of the leading causes of mortality: according to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates in 2015, 17.5 million deaths each year are attributable to cardiovascular diseases2. Hence the push to try to find new, more effective solutions to these diseases in terms of prevention and treatment. To this end, this team of Chinese researchers focused on a common cardiovascular disease: atherosclerosis. This is caused by accumulation of lipids in the arteries which gradually form atherosclerotic plaques, also known as atheroma3. These plaques impair blood flow and can result in total obstruction or rupture of the arteries. While atherosclerosis may develop slowly, it can lead to serious health complications and thus prevention is vitally important. Fortunately, scientists are considering several approaches to reducing its incidence, including that investigated by the Chinese researchers - the potential of anthocyanins to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.Numerous cardiovascular risk factors
While genetic predisposition might account for some cases of atherosclerosis, there are also a number of identified risk factors. Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, obesity, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle … there are so many factors that damage cardiovascular health by increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. According to the WHO, most cases of cardiovascular disease could be prevented if these risk factors were addressed. Alongside information and prevention campaigns, scientists are working to develop nutritional and therapeutic strategies to reduce incidence of the disease. Among the potential solutions being examined by researchers, the use of anthocyanins may well represent a serious option.Evaluating the potential of anthocyanins in hypercholesterolaemia
Between 2008 and 2010, the Chinese scientists monitored 146 patients aged 40-65 suffering from hypercholesterolaemia – high levels of cholesterol in the blood. In order to evaluate the effects of anthocyanin supplementation, the subjects were divided into two groups – one receiving a daily 320mg dose of anthocyanins, and the other a placebo. The researchers monitored various parameters such as blood lipids and the presence of markers of inflammatory molecules. Of particular interest here were chemokines, immune system molecules known to be involved in the inflammatory response which contributes to atherosclerosis.Evidence of anthocyanins’ effect on chemokines
In their analysis, the researchers compared pre-study data with that obtained after 12 and 24 weeks’ supplementation. While all the patients had displayed similar levels of chemokines before the start of the study, 12 weeks into the trial, plasma concentration of the chemokines CXCL5 and CXCL8 were found to be slightly lower in the anthocyanin-supplemented group, with a more pronounced decrease observed after 24 weeks’ supplementation. In fact, the researchers noted a significant reduction in plasma concentrations of a number of chemokines including CXCL7, CXCL5, CXCL8, CXCL12, and CCL2. These results are very encouraging given the known association between chemokines and the development of atherosclerosis.Further beneficial effects from anthocyanins
As well as producing a reduction in chemokines, anthocyanins may also have an effect on inflammatory markers and lipid parameters. Compared with the placebo group, the anthocyanin group were found to have lower concentrations in certain inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-1. The anthocyanin supplementation also appeared to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. At the end of the study, improvements were seen in the supplemented patients’ levels of both ‘good’ HDL-cholesterol, which increased on average from 1.22 mmol/L to 1.37 mmol/L, and ‘bad’ LDL-cholesterol which fell on average from 3.36 mmol/L to 3.01 mmol/L. This suggests that anthocyanins could prove to be a valuable aid in preventing cardiovascular disease and combatting hypercholesterolaemia.Free
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