Combination Supplement May Help Improve Endothelial Function and Blood Pressure

Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a class of compounds with antioxidant effects. Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes extracted from pineapples. A recent study suggests that supplementation with anthocyanins and bromelain may help improve endothelial function and systolic blood pressure.

Participants in the study included 18 adults with an average age of 24. Half received a supplement containing an acute dose of anthocyanin extracts from hawthorn berries (465 mg) and tart cherry (480 mg) and bromelain (400 mg) and half received a placebo. After a two-week washout period they switched interventions. The researchers measured brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, blood pressure, total antioxidant capacity, resting heart rate, oxygen utility capacity and fatigability before and after supplementation.

Following supplementation with anthocyanins and bromelain, participants saw a 3.5% improvement in flow-mediated dilation. They also saw a 4 mmHg improvement in systolic blood pressure. In addition, they saw significant increases in total antioxidant capacity and oxygen utility capacity compared to the placebo group. No significant differences were seen in resting heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, or fatigability.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Nebraska, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It was published online ahead of print on July 14, 2020 in the British Journal of Nutrition.