This prospective open-label clinical case-series study examined the effect of 4-week supplementation of a standardized Aronia Melanocarpa L. extract (SAE; Alixir 400 PROTECT^®) on clinical and biochemical parameters in 143 patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Results showed that SAE supplementation significantly altered systolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure as well as heart rate values. After 2 weeks, cholesterol levels significantly decreased in the female patients with diabetes mellitus compared to baseline within group, while the LDL levels significantly decreased in the women. Triglycerides significantly decreased only after 4 weeks of SAE treatment in diabetic groups (male and female) compared to baseline.

Authors concluded that 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, which could be a promising strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Tasic N, Jakovljevic VLJ, Mitrovic M, Djindjic B, Tasic D, Dragisic D, Citakovic Z, Kovacevic Z, Radoman K, Zivkovic V, Bolevich S, Turnic TN. Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa extract reduces blood pressure, glycemia and lipid profile in patients with metabolic syndrome: a prospective controlled trial. Mol Cell Biochem. 2021 Mar 5. doi: 10.1007/s11010-021-04106-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33666827.

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