Flavascular study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effects of apple derived flavanols on cardiovascular disease risk
IRAS ID
139532
Contact name
Paul A Kroon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Quadram Institute Bioscience
Research summary
Fruit and vegetable rich diets are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The protective effect may be ascribed to compounds contained within these foods, called flavonoids. Flavanols (epicatechin and procyanidins) are a particular group of flavonoids and are found mostly in apples, berry fruits, dark chocolate, tea and red wine. There is evidence to suggest that ingestion of flavanol-rich foods and beverages beneficially alter ’markers’ for CVD risk (e.g. blood pressure). Whether these protective effects of flavanols are due to epicatechin or procyanidins remains unclear. \n\nIn a randomized, 4-arm crossover trial we aim to recruit 50 participants (men and women, aged 50+ years) to consume capsules containing apple flavanols providing (i) 70 mg epicatechin and ~ 100 mg procyanidins, (ii) 140 mg epicatechin and ~ 200 mg procyanidins, (iii) No epicatechin and ~ 200 mg procyanidins, and (iv) a placebo control. Each test product will be ingested for a period of 28 days with a washout period of at least 2 weeks in-between. \n\nCVD risk will be evaluated at the start and end of each 28-day intervention period. Assessments will include blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (the time it takes for a pulse wave to travel a certain distance along our arteries) and collection of blood samples to measure components that are related to CVD risk (glucose, cholesterol, nitric oxide and endothelin-1). The aim of the study is to determine the short and long term effects of apple flavanols on biological markers for CVD risk and differentiate between the cardio-protective effects of epicatechin and procyanidins. \n\nThis study will be conducted at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) in Norwich and is being funded partly by the European Union and partly through the Food and Health Institute Strategic Programme grant to IFR.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EE/0393
Date of REC Opinion
25 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion