Effect of Annurca Apple Polyphenols on Intermittent Claudication in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 123; no. 5; pp. 847 - 853
• Main Authors: Tenore, Gian Carlo, D'Avino, Maria, Caruso, Domenico, Buonomo, Giuseppe, Acampora, Ciro, Caruso, Giuseppe, Simone, Crescenzo, Ciampaglia, Roberto, Novellino, Ettore
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acceleration; Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Ankle; Ankle Brachial Index; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Autonomy; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiovascular diseases; Cold; Committees; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fruits; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Humans; Intermittent Claudication - diagnosis; Intermittent Claudication - drug therapy; Intermittent Claudication - physiopathology; Male; Maltodextrin; Malus - chemistry; Middle Aged; Patients; Peripheral Arterial Disease - diagnosis; Peripheral Arterial Disease - drug therapy; Peripheral Arterial Disease - physiopathology; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Polyphenols; Polyphenols - administration & dosage; Prospective Studies; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Self evaluation; Signs and symptoms; Treatment Outcome; Vascular diseases; Walking; Italy; Europe
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2018.11.034
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic process involving both modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors. Prospective cohort studies show that patients with PAD have a 6-fold greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those without PAD. Currently, there is no effective treatment for PAD. The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, involving 180 patients, aged 35 to 75. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. One group underwent 24 weeks of nutraceutical treatment consisting in the administration of 4 capsules of Annurca apple polyphenolic extract (AMS)/day. The placebo group was administered with identically appearing capsules containing only maltodextrin. Primary outcome measures were: walking autonomy, ankle-brachial index, acceleration time. In the AMS group, at the end of the treatment period, walking autonomy was increased on average by 69% (p <0.05), while slighter effects were registered as regards ankle-brachial index (+25%; p <0.05) and acceleration time (−3.6%; p <0.05), when compared with baseline. Placebo group revealed no significant differences as regards variations of all outcomes measures (p >0.05). Our preliminary results may indicate AMS product as a promising natural and safe tool for treatment of symptoms related to PAD.