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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Nov 14;10(11):1766.
doi: 10.3390/nu10111766.

Changing to a Low-Polyphenol Diet Alters Vascular Biomarkers in Healthy Men after Only Two Weeks

Sara Hurtado-Barroso  1   2   3 , Paola Quifer-Rada  4   5 , José Fernando Rinaldi de Alvarenga  6   7 , Silvia Pérez-Fernández  8   9 , Anna Tresserra-Rimbau  10   11 , Rosa M Lamuela-Raventos  12   13   14
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Changing to a Low-Polyphenol Diet Alters Vascular Biomarkers in Healthy Men after Only Two Weeks

Sara Hurtado-Barroso et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Bioactive dietary compounds play a critical role in health maintenance. The relation between bioactive compound intake and cardiovascular health-related biomarkers has been demonstrated in several studies, although mainly with participants who have altered biochemical parameters (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, etc.). The aim of this study was to evaluate if adopting a diet low in polyphenol-rich food for two weeks would affect vascular biomarkers in healthy men. In a crossover study, 22 healthy men were randomly assigned to their usual diet (UD), consuming healthy food rich in polyphenols, or to a low antioxidant diet (LAD), with less than two servings of fruit and vegetables per day and avoiding the intake of cocoa products, coffee and tea. As a marker of compliance, total polyphenols in urine were significantly lower after the LAD than after the UD (79 ± 43 vs. 123 ± 58 mg GAE/g creatinine). Nitric oxide levels were also reduced (52 ± 28 in LAD vs. 80 ± 34 µM in UD), although no significant changes in cellular adhesion molecules and eicosanoids were observed; however, an increasing ratio between thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) and prostaglandin I₂ (PGI₂) was reached (p = 0.048). Thus, a slight dietary modification, reducing the consumption of polyphenol-rich food, may affect vascular biomarkers even in healthy individuals.

Keywords: Mediterranean diet; adhesion molecules; bioactive compounds; eicosanoids; low antioxidant diet; nitric oxide; vascular biomarkers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Lamuela-Raventós reports receiving lecture fees from Cerveceros de España; and receiving lecture fees and travel support from Adventia. Nevertheless, these foundations were not involved in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, the writing of the manuscript or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram showing the participation of volunteers in each phase of the trial. The usual diet (UD) is shown on the left side of the graph and the low antioxidant diet (LAD) on the right side.
Figure 2
Figure 2
General scheme of the crossover trial with two intervention periods.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in urine after each intervention. Data shown are mean ± SEM. * Significant differences with p < 0.05.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) NO (B) ICAM-1 (C) VCAM-1 (D) PGI2 (E) TXA2 and (F) ratio TXA2/PGI2 between both interventions. Data shown are mean ± SEM. The UD is in black and the LAD is in gray; * significant differences with p < 0.05.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Correlation of Mediterranean diet adherence with TPE (A) and NO (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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