Black Raspberry Improved Lipid Profiles and Vascular Endothelial Function in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Subgroup Analysis of Statin Naïve Participants

Abstract

Objective: Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) has been known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects and for improving vascular endothelial function in patients at high-risk for cardiovascular disease. We investigated short-term effects of black raspberry on lipid profiles, vascular endothelial function and circulating endothelial progenitor cells in statin naïve participants with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Patients with metabolic syndrome (n=51) without lipid lowering medications were prospectively randomized into the black raspberry group (n=26, 750 mg/day) and placebo group (n=25) during the 12-week follow-up. Lipid profiles, brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (baFMD) and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, adiponectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were measured at baseline and at 12-week follow-up. Central blood pressure and augmentation index were also measured at baseline and at 12-week follow-up. Results: Decreases from baseline in total cholesterol levels (-22.7±34.3 mg/dL vs. 0.0±34.7mg/dL, p<0.05, respectively) and total cholesterol/HDL ratio (-0.34±0.68 vs. 0.17±0.56, p<0.05, respectively) were significantly greater in the black raspberry group when compared to the placebo group. Decreases from baseline in IL-6 (-0.5±1.4 pg/mL vs. -0.1±1.1 pg/mL, p<0.05, respectively) and TNF-α levels (-5.4±4.5 pg/mL vs. -0.8±4.0 pg/mL, p<0.05, respectively) were significantly greater in the black raspberry group. Increases from the baseline in adiponectin levels (2.9±2.1 μg/mL vs. -0.2±2.5 μg/mL, p<.05) were significant in the black raspberry group. Increases in baFMD at 12-week follow-up were significantly greater in the black raspberry group when compared to the placebo group (2.9±3.6 mm vs. 1.0±3.9 mm, p<0.05, respectively). Radial augmentation indexes were significantly decreased in the black raspberry group when compared to the placebo group (-2±10% vs. 4±13%, p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of black raspberry significantly decreased serum total cholesterol levels, inflammatory cytokines, and augmentation index, thereby improving vascular endothelial function in statin naïve participants with metabolic syndrome during the 12-week follow-up.

The cholesterol-lowering effect of unripe Rubus coreanus is associated with decreased oxidized LDL and apolipoprotein B levels in subjects with borderline-high cholesterol levels: a randomized controlled trial

“…Although the effect of uRC on lipid profiles in individuals with metabolic syndrome has been reported [ 25 ], the effect of uRC on subjects with borderline-high total cholesterol levels has not been studied . In the study by Myung et al, uRC supplementation improved vascular endothelial function in 51 statin-naïve participants with metabolic syndrome during a 12-week follow-up [ 25 ]. In this previous study, a greater reduction in total cholesterol levels from baseline (− 22.7 ± 34.3 mg/dL vs. 0.0 ± 34.7 mg/dL, P < 0.05) was observed in the supplementation group than in the placebo group.…”

“…According to one clinical trial in humans, the use of black raspberry improves vascular endothelial function and significantly reduces the levels of total cholesterol and inflammatory cytokines in patients with metabolic syndrome [ 25 ]. However, the efficacy of uRC has mainly been explored in vitro or in animal models.…”

The effects of raspberry consumption on lipid profile and blood pressure in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Eight weeks after starting treatment, prehypertensive patients who consumed black raspberries had significantly reduced 24‐hour blood pressure (Jeong, Hong, et al., 2016 ; Jeong, Kim, et al., 2016 ). The use of raspberries has been shown in one human clinical trial to improve vascular endothelial function and reduce total cholesterol and inflammatory cytokines levels in patients with metabolic syndrome (Myung et al., 2016 ). Black raspberry has been shown to improve vascular function, lipid profiles, and blood pressure in a few studies (Ash et al., 2011 ; McAnulty et al., 2014 ).…”

Black raspberry ( Rubus occidentalis ) attenuates inflammatory markers and vascular endothelial dysfunction in Wistar rats fed a high‐fat diet with fructose solution

“…In particular, black raspberry (BR: Rubus occidentalis) is abundant in flavonoids, anthocyanins, ellagitannins, fiber, vitamins, and minerals (Gu et al, 2014;Kim et al, 2018). These active compounds exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherosclerotic effects and play vital roles in inhibiting oxidative stress, reducing adhesion molecules and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increasing endothelial nitroxide synthase (eNOS), which produces NO (Myung et al, 2016;Oak et al, 2018).…”