How Do Anthocyanins Affect Peripheral Blood Flow: A Systematic Review
Author(s): Eleanor Moore, Anna E Litwic, Peter Belward, Pat Taylor, David Warwick, Elaine Dennison
Foods rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, have many health benefits. The largest and most important subgroup of polyphenols are flavonoids, of which anthocyanins are one. In vitro studies have shown that anthocyanin induced vasorelaxation is dependent on Nitrous Oxide and a functional endothelium. The anthocyanin effect on change in blood flow could have potential therapeutic implications. However it is unclear if the results can be extrapolated to humans. The number of studies investigating the effects of anthocyanins within humans is fairly limited and the results are discordant. The conflicting evidence surrounding anthocyanins and blood flow highlights the need for a future research in this area.