Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa extract reduces blood pressure, glycemia and lipid profile in patients with metabolic syndrome: a prospective controlled trial

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of 4-week supplementation of Alixir 400 PROTECT® (Standardized Aronia L. Melanocarpa Extract Extract-SAE) on clinical and biochemical parameters in patients with confirmed metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study was designed as a prospective open-label clinical case-series study with 28 days of follow-up with cases selected and followed during the period from February 1, 2018 to November 2019. The study included 143 male and female patients with MetS who were subjected to SAE. SAE supplementation significantly altered SP, BP as well as HR values. After 2 weeks, CHOL levels significantly decreased in the fMetS-DM group compared to the baseline values in this group, while the LDL levels significantly decreased in the fMetS group. Triglycerides significantly decreased only after 4 weeks of SAE treatment in diabetic groups of patients (fMetS-DM and mMetS-DM) compared to the baseline, while in non-diabetic groups this marker was not significantly altered. Increased polyphenols or SAE consumption is correlated with a positive effect on body weight, total cholesterol, low and high-density lipoproteins, blood pressure and glycemia. Increasing consumption of polyphenol-rich foods could be a promising strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk.