Effects of Blackcurrant Anthocyanin on Endothelial Function and Peripheral Temperature in Young Smokers

Abstract

Background: Blackcurrant anthocyanin (BCA) is expected to repair endothelial dysfunction, but it remains unclear whether beneficial effects are present in young healthy persons. This study examines whether supplements containing blackcurrant anthocyanin improve endothelial function and peripheral temperature in young smokers.

Methods: Young, healthy male nonsmokers (N group: n = 11; mean age 22 ± 2 years) and smokers (S group: n = 13; mean age 21 ± 1 years) were enrolled. A randomized and double-blind trial was designed to compare the effects of no supplement, a supplement containing 50 mg of blackcurrant anthocyanin (supplement A), and a supplement containing 50 mg of blackcurrant anthocyanin plus vitamin E (supplement B) on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and skin temperature.

Results: Under no supplement, FMD was unchanged during the 2 h period after smoking in the N group, whereas it was decreased during the 2 h period after smoking in the S group. Under the A supplement, FMD was decreased 1 h after smoking and returned to the baseline level 2 h after smoking in the S group. The skin temperature in the area of the foot dorsum was decreased in the S group after smoking compared with that in the N group, who did not smoke, whereas under A and B supplements, it was higher in the S group compared with that in the N group.

Conclusions: BCA could attenuate the smoking-induced acute endothelial dysfunction and improve peripheral temperature in young smokers.

Keywords: anthocyanin; blackcurrant; endothelial function; peripheral temperature; smoking.

Figure 1

Changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in smokers and non-smokers receiving no supplement (Control) (a), A supplement (b), and B supplement (c) measured before and after moking one cigarette. Circular mark: nonsmokers; triangular mark: smokers. FMD is shown by the percentage change of the diameter of the brachial artery at maximal dilatation during reactive hyperemia compared to the baseline value. Values are indicated as means ± standard errors. Difference in changes from baseline to 2 h between groups was assessed by two-way repeated measure ANOVA followed by Bonferroni adjustment as a post-hoc test. The B supplement induced a statistically significant difference by two-way repeated measure ANOVA (p < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between the control and the A supplement group. *1 was analyzed by Bonferroni test between times on each group, and *2 was analyzed by Bonferroni adjustment between groups; *1 and *2 mean statistical significance was p < 0.05.

Figure 2

Study protocol.

Figure 3

Setting and Measurement site. (A) shows the setting during measuring outcome. (B) shows 4 temparature-measued areas of the right- and left-foot toes (left: Lt, right: Rt) in the range below the line connecting the first and fifth metatarsal bones, and in the right- and left-foot dorsa (left: Ld, right: Rd) in the range below the line connecting the inner and external ankles.