Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Effects of anthocyanins on blood pressure and stress reactivity: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover study

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 26, pages 396–404 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

High intakes of flavonoids are associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, and flavonoids such as cocoa and soy protein isolate have shown beneficial effects on blood pressure (BP). Anthocyanins constitute a flavonoid subgroup consumed in regular diets, but few studies have assessed the antihypertensive potential of anthocyanins. We aimed to assess whether high concentrations of relatively pure anthocyanins reduce BP and alter cardiovascular and catecholamine reactivity to stress. A total of 31 healthy men between 35–51 years of age with screening BP >140/90 mm Hg, not on antihypertensive or lipid-lowering medication, were randomised in a double-blind crossover study to placebo versus 320-mg anthoycanins twice daily. Treatment duration was 4 weeks, with a 4-week washout. Sitting and supine BP measurements, ambulatory BP recording and stress reactivity were assessed and analyzed by a paired sample t-test. In all, 27 patients completed all visits. Sitting systolic BP (primary endpoint) was 133 mm Hg after placebo versus 135 mm Hg after anthocyanin treatment (P=0.25). Anthocyanins did neither affect semiautomatic oscillometric BP measurements in the sitting or supine position nor 24-h ambulatory BP. No significant differences in stress reactivity were found across treatment periods. Overall, we conclude that high concentrations of these relatively pure anthocyanins do not reduce BP in healthy men with a high normal BP.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hertog MG, Feskens EJ, Hollman PC, Katan MB, Kromhout D . Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of coronary heart disease: the Zutphen Elderly Study. Lancet 1993; 342: 1007–1011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mink PJ, Scrafford CG, Barraj LM, Harnack L, Hong CP, Nettleton JA et al. Flavonoid intake and cardiovascular disease mortality: a prospective study in postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85: 895–909.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hooper L, Kroon PA, Rimm EB, Cohn JS, Harvey I, Le Cornu KA et al. Flavonoids, flavonoid-rich foods, and cardiovascular risk: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr 2008; 88: 38–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Naruszewicz M, Laniewska I, Millo B, Dluzniewski M . Combination therapy of statin with flavonoids rich extract from chokeberry fruits enhanced reduction in cardiovascular risk markers in patients after myocardial infraction (MI). Atherosclerosis 2007; 194: e179–e184.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. McKay DL, Chen CY, Saltzman E, Blumberg JB . Hibiscus sabdariffa L tea (tisane) lowers blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. J Nutr 2010; 140: 298–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Karlsen A, Retterstol L, Laake P, Paur I, Kjolsrud-Bohn S, Sandvik L et al. Anthocyanins inhibit nuclear factor-kappaB activation in monocytes and reduce plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators in healthy adults. J Nutr 2007; 137: 1951–1954.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Qin Y, Xia M, Ma J, Hao Y, Liu J, Mou H et al. Anthocyanin supplementation improves serum LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations associated with the inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in dyslipidemic subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 2009; 90: 485–492.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Flaa A, Eide IK, Kjeldsen SE, Rostrup M . Sympathoadrenal stress reactivity is a predictor of future blood pressure: an 18-year follow-up study. Hypertension 2008; 52: 336–341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Schwartz AR, Gerin W, Davidson KW, Pickering TG, Brosschot JF, Thayer JF et al. Toward a causal model of cardiovascular responses to stress and the development of cardiovascular disease. Psychosom Med 2003; 65: 22–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Olatunji LA, Soladoye AO . Effects of chronic administration of vitamin E on haemodynamic responses to postural stress or cold pressor test in apparently healthy young men. Niger Postgrad Med J 2008; 15: 225–228.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Brody S, Preut R, Schommer K, Schurmeyer TH . A randomized controlled trial of high dose ascorbic acid for reduction of blood pressure, cortisol, and subjective responses to psychological stress. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2002; 159: 319–324.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Steptoe A, Gibson EL, Vuononvirta R, Williams ED, Hamer M, Rycroft JA et al. The effects of tea on psychophysiological stress responsivity and post-stress recovery: a randomised double-blind trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2007; 190: 81–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Girouard H, Chulak C, LeJossec M, Lamontagne D, de CJ . Chronic antioxidant treatment improves sympathetic functions and beta-adrenergic pathway in the spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens 2003; 21: 179–188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nishiyama K, Yasue H, Moriyama Y, Tsunoda R, Ogawa H, Yoshimura M et al. Acute effects of melatonin administration on cardiovascular autonomic regulation in healthy men. Am Heart J 2001; 141: E9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Guelen I, Westerhof BE, van der Sar GL, van Montfrans GA, Kiemeneij F, Wesseling KH et al. Finometer, finger pressure measurements with the possibility to reconstruct brachial pressure. Blood Press Monit 2003; 8: 27–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Peuler JD, Johnson GA . Simultaneous single isotope radioenzymatic assay of plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. Life Sci 1977; 21: 625–636.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Rostrup M, Mundal HH, Westheim A, Eide I . Awareness of high blood pressure increases arterial plasma catecholamines, platelet noradrenaline and adrenergic responses to mental stress. J Hypertens 1991; 9: 159–166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Herrera-Arellano A, Miranda-Sanchez J, Avila-Castro P, Herrera-Alvarez S, Jimenez-Ferrer JE, Zamilpa A et al. Clinical effects produced by a standardized herbal medicinal product of Hibiscus sabdariffa on patients with hypertension. A randomized, double-blind, lisinopril-controlled clinical trial. Planta Med 2007; 73: 6–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Senn S, Lambrou D . Robust and realistic approaches to carry-over. Stat Med 1998; 17: 2849–2864.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Desch S, Schmidt J, Kobler D, Sonnabend M, Eitel I, Sareban M et al. Effect of cocoa products on blood pressure: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Hypertens 2010; 23: 97–103.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. McGhie TK, Walton MC . The bioavailability and absorption of anthocyanins: towards a better understanding. Mol Nutr Food Res 2007; 51: 702–713.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Curtis PJ, Kroon PA, Hollands WJ, Walls R, Jenkins G, Kay CD et al. Cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks. J Nutr 2009; 139: 2266–2271.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Shi Z, Chen AD, Xu Y, Chen Q, Gao XY, Wang W et al. Long-term administration of tempol attenuates postinfarct ventricular dysfunction and sympathetic activity in rats. Pflugers Arch 2009; 458: 247–257.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. van den Bogaard B, Draijer R, Westerhof BE, van den Meiracker AH, van Montfrans GA, van den Born BJ . Effects on peripheral and central blood pressure of cocoa with natural or high-dose theobromine: a randomized, double-blind crossover trial. Hypertension 2010; 56: 839–846.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Vibeke Kjær and Christina Roaldsnes for substantial assistance during the study, Biolink AS for supply of Medox capsules and Anette Karlsen for angiotensin-converting enzyme analysis at the Department of Nutrition, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    S S Hassellund, A Flaa, S E Kjeldsen & M Rostrup

  2. Department of Acute Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    S S Hassellund, A Flaa & M Rostrup

  3. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    S S Hassellund, A Flaa & S E Kjeldsen

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    L Sandvik

  5. Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    S E Kjeldsen

Authors
  1. S S Hassellund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A Flaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L Sandvik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S E Kjeldsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M Rostrup
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S S Hassellund.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

Biolink AS (Sandnes, Norway) provided anthocyanin and placebo capsules for free. They provided the corresponding author half his income for 1 year. They were encouraged to comment on the manuscript; however, the conduction, analysis and article preparation were investigator initiated, and unfavourable results could not be restricted from publication.

Additional information

Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Human Hypertension website

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hassellund, S., Flaa, A., Sandvik, L. et al. Effects of anthocyanins on blood pressure and stress reactivity: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover study. J Hum Hypertens 26, 396–404 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2011.41

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2011.41

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links