Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial
Background: Endothelial dysfunction has been associated to cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important physiological role for their reparative potential of vascular integrity, but are numerically reduced and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/4/88 |
| _version_ | 1797757532991651840 |
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| author | Francesca Felice Alessandra Francini Valentina Domenici Mario Cifelli Ester Belardinelli Luca Sebastiani Claudio Cantini Rossella Di Stefano |
| author_facet | Francesca Felice Alessandra Francini Valentina Domenici Mario Cifelli Ester Belardinelli Luca Sebastiani Claudio Cantini Rossella Di Stefano |
| author_sort | Francesca Felice |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Endothelial dysfunction has been associated to cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important physiological role for their reparative potential of vascular integrity, but are numerically reduced and functionally impaired in patients with cardiovascular risks. This study assesses the effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and apple-enriched dark chocolate intake on the blood levels of EPCs. Methods: Thirty volunteers with cardiovascular risk factors, enrolled in a randomised, crossover, four-weeks trial, received a solid dark chocolate bar (40 g/day) containing 10% EVOO or 2.5% dry apples. Urine samples were analyzed for endogenous metabolites. Circulating EPCs levels, clinical data and anthropometric examinations were collected. Results: 26 volunteers (M/F:14/12, 51 ± 9 years of age) completed the study. Comparison of pre-post intervention revealed a significant increase in EPCs levels associated with EVOO-dark chocolate consumption. Most biochemical parameters were not significantly modified by both chocolates. Conclusions: This study shows that a daily consumption of a non fattening dose of dark chocolate enriched with EVOO improves blood levels of EPCs, a well known surrogate biologic marker for endothelial function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:17:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e700e1d3a994744a56b2a8f88cacd58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:17:09Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e700e1d3a994744a56b2a8f88cacd582023-08-02T09:03:59ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212019-04-01848810.3390/antiox8040088antiox8040088Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over TrialFrancesca Felice0Alessandra Francini1Valentina Domenici2Mario Cifelli3Ester Belardinelli4Luca Sebastiani5Claudio Cantini6Rossella Di Stefano7Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyBioLabs, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyCardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyBioLabs, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, ItalyTrees and Timber Institute, IVALSA-CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, ItalyCardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyBackground: Endothelial dysfunction has been associated to cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important physiological role for their reparative potential of vascular integrity, but are numerically reduced and functionally impaired in patients with cardiovascular risks. This study assesses the effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and apple-enriched dark chocolate intake on the blood levels of EPCs. Methods: Thirty volunteers with cardiovascular risk factors, enrolled in a randomised, crossover, four-weeks trial, received a solid dark chocolate bar (40 g/day) containing 10% EVOO or 2.5% dry apples. Urine samples were analyzed for endogenous metabolites. Circulating EPCs levels, clinical data and anthropometric examinations were collected. Results: 26 volunteers (M/F:14/12, 51 ± 9 years of age) completed the study. Comparison of pre-post intervention revealed a significant increase in EPCs levels associated with EVOO-dark chocolate consumption. Most biochemical parameters were not significantly modified by both chocolates. Conclusions: This study shows that a daily consumption of a non fattening dose of dark chocolate enriched with EVOO improves blood levels of EPCs, a well known surrogate biologic marker for endothelial function.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/4/88dark chocolateendothelial progenitor cellscardiovascular risk factorsmetabolism |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Felice Alessandra Francini Valentina Domenici Mario Cifelli Ester Belardinelli Luca Sebastiani Claudio Cantini Rossella Di Stefano Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial Antioxidants dark chocolate endothelial progenitor cells cardiovascular risk factors metabolism |
| title | Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial |
| title_full | Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial |
| title_short | Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples Enriched-Dark Chocolate on Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial |
| title_sort | effects of extra virgin olive oil and apples enriched dark chocolate on endothelial progenitor cells in patients with cardiovascular risk factors a randomized cross over trial |
| topic | dark chocolate endothelial progenitor cells cardiovascular risk factors metabolism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/4/88 |
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