LDL cholesterol-lowering effects of grape extract used as a dietary supplement on healthy volunteers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Eminol®, the polyphenol-rich grape extract supplement (700 mg), on cardiovascular risk and oxidant stress indicators in a sample of volunteers. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed over 56 days and included 60 volunteers. Thirty volunteers took 700 mg of the grape extract, Eminol® (E), and 30 took the placebo (P). On comparison of the results, a decrease in total cholesterol (E: 213.77 ± 4.1 mg/dl and P: 245.57 ± 4.1 mg/dl; p = 0.01) and LDL cholesterol (E: 142.17 ± 3.1 mg/dl and P: 165.13 ± 3.1 mg/dl; p = 0.02) levels as well as an increase in antioxidant capacity (E: 65.63 ± 5.8 μmol TE/mg and P: 57.80 ± 7.7 μmol TE/mg; p < 0.01) and vitamin E (E: 11.46 ± 0.5 μg/ml and P: 9.06 ± 0.5 μg/ml; p = 0.018) was observed. This result indicates that the grape extract Eminol® modulated the lipid profile in terms of cardiovascular risk indicators, lowering total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels.

Keywords::

• grape extract
• polyphenols
• cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol
• antioxidant capacity

Acknowledgements

This research has been carried out within the framework of the project (SENIFOOD-Industrial research on diets and foods with specific characteristics for older people) funded by the CDTI, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain). We thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of the Autonomous Government of Castile and León for the funding awarded to develop the previous studies.

We also thank Quantum Experimental for coordinating the study, and Hospital Txagorritxu (Vitoria-Spain) and Hospital Puerta de Hierro (Madrid-Spain) for participating in the study.

Declaration of interest : The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.