A red-fleshed apple rich in anthocyanins improves endothelial function, reduces inflammation, and modulates the immune system in hypercholesterolemic subjects: the AppleCOR study

• Published in: Food & function 2024-06, Vol.15 (11), p.5825-5841
• Main Authors: Pedret, Anna, Companys, Judit, Calderón-Pérez, Lorena, Llauradó, Elisabet, Pla-Pagà, Laura, Salamanca, Patricia, Sandoval-Ramírez, Berner-Andree, Catalán, Úrsula, Fernández-Castillejo, Sara, Yuste, Silvia, Macià, Alba, Gutiérrez-Tordera, Laia, Bulló, Mónica, Camps, Jordi, Canela, Núria, Valls, Rosa Maria, Rubió-Piqué, Laura, Motilva, Maria José, Solà, Rosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute effects; Adult; Aged; Anthocyanins; Anthocyanins - administration & dosage; Anthocyanins - pharmacology; Apples; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Complement system; Consumption; Female; Fruit - chemistry; Fruits; Health risks; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - drug therapy; Hyperemia; Immune system; Immune System - drug effects; Immunoglobulins; Inflammation; Ischemia; Lipids; Male; Malus - chemistry; Middle Aged; P-selectin; Photinia - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Proteins; Proteomics
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/d3fo05114e

The study determines the sustained and acute effects of a red-fleshed apple (RFA), rich in anthocyanins (ACNs), a white-fleshed apple (WFA) without ACNs, and an infusion from Aronia melanocarpa (AI) with an equivalent content of ACNs as RFA, on different cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in hypercholesterolemic subjects. A randomized, parallel study was performed for 6 weeks and two dose-response studies were performed at the baseline and after intervention. At 6 weeks, RFA consumption improved ischemic reactive hyperemia and decreased C-reactive protein and interleukine-6 compared to WFA consumption. Moreover, at 6 weeks, AI decreased P-selectin compared to WFA and improved the lipid profile. Three products reduced C1q, C4 and Factor B, and RFA and AI reduced C3. Although both RFA and AI have a similar ACN content, RFA, by a matrix effect, induced more improvements in inflammation, whereas AI improved the lipid profile. Anti-inflammatory protein modulation by proteomic reduction of the complement system and immunoglobulins were verified after WFA, AI and RFA consumption. Red-fleshed apples (RFA), improve endothelial function and decrease inflammation. RFA induce more improvements in inflammation than aronia infusion (AI), whereas AI improves lipid profile. RFA, white-fleshed apples and AI modulate immune system.