The regular consumption of a polyphenol-rich apple does not influence endothelial function: a randomised double-blind trial in hypercholesterolemic adults

International audienceBackground/objectives: Epidemiological studies suggest that apple consumption is associated to a reduction of cardiovascular disease risk. Apple polyphenols may contribute to explain these effects. Endothelial dysfunction has been associated with early stage of atherosclerosis and polyphenols from various dietary sources have been shown to reverse it. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the consumption of a polyphenol-rich apple on endothelial function. Subjects/methods: Thirty hypercholesterolemic volunteers were included in a doubled-blinded randomized cross-over trial. They successively consumed 40 g of two lyophilised apples, polyphenol-rich and polyphenol-poor, providing respectively 1.43 and 0.21 g polyphenols per day during two 4-week periods separated by a 4-week washout period. Results: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed at the beginning and at the end of each intervention period. FMD did not differ between the polyphenol-rich and the polyphenol-poor apples, neither other cardiovascular disease risk factors (plasma lipids, homocysteine, antioxidant capacity). Conclusions: These data suggest that over a 4-week period, the consumption of a polyphenol-rich apple does not improve vascular function in hypercholesterolemic patients