Anthocyanin supplementation improves serum LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations associated with the inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in dyslipidemic subjects

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 90; no. 3; pp. 485 - 492
• Main Authors: Qin, Yu, Xia, Min, Ma, Jing, Hao, YuanTao, Liu, Jing, Mou, HaiYing, Cao, Li, Ling, WenHua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01.09.2009; American Society for Nutrition; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; adults; Aged; antagonists & inhibitors; anthocyanins; Anthocyanins - pharmacology; Anthocyanins - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Transport; blood; blood lipids; blood serum; Cell Line; Cells; chemical concentration; Cholesterol; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; cholesterol metabolism; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; cholesteryl ester transfer protein; cholesteryl esters; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; drug therapy; Dyslipidemias; Dyslipidemias - blood; Dyslipidemias - drug therapy; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fruit; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucosides; Glucosides - pharmacology; high density lipoprotein; Humans; hyperlipidemia; Lipids; Low density lipoprotein; Male; Medical research; Middle Aged; nutrition assessment; nutritional intervention; nutritional status; patients; pharmacology; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Proteins; small fruits; therapeutic use; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Anthocyanin; Human; Metabolic diseases; Cholesterol LDL; Lipids; Concentration; Protein; Ester; Cholesterol HDL; Transfer; Serum; Inhibition; Supplementation; Dyslipemia
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27814

BACKGROUND: Anthocyanins have been shown to exert benefits on the lipid profile in many animal models. Whether these molecules have similar beneficial effects in humans is currently unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the effects of berry-derived anthocyanin supplements on the serum lipid profile in dyslipidemic patients. DESIGN: A total of 120 dyslipidemic subjects (age 40-65 y) were given 160 mg anthocyanins twice daily or placebo for 12 wk in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. RESULTS: Anthocyanin consumption increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations (13.7% and 2.8% in the anthocyanin and placebo groups, respectively; P < 0.001) and decreased LDL-cholesterol concentrations (13.6% and -0.6% in the anthocyanin and placebo groups, respectively; P < 0.001). Cellular cholesterol efflux to serum increased more in the anthocyanin group than in the placebo group (20.0% and 0.2%, respectively; P < 0.001). Anthocyanin supplementation decreased the mass and activity of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) (10.4% and 6.3%, respectively, in the anthocyanin group and -3.5% and 1.1%, respectively, in the placebo group; P < 0.001). In the anthocyanin group, the change in HDL cholesterol was negatively correlated with the change in CETP activity (rs = -0.330). The change in LDL cholesterol was positively correlated with the change in CETP mass (rs = 0.354). The change in cellular cholesterol efflux to serum was positively correlated with the change in HDL cholesterol (rs = 0.485). In vitro, cyanidin 3-O-β-glucosides dose-dependently lowered CETP activity in human HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Anthocyanin supplementation in humans improves LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations and enhances cellular cholesterol efflux to serum. These benefits may be due to the inhibition of CETP.