The impact of dietary flavonoid supplementation on smoking-induced inflammatory process and fibrinolytic impairment.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Smoking is associated with increased inflammatory process and impairment of fibrinolytic status. Concord grape juice (CGJ), a rich source of flavonoids, can modify cardiovascular risk factors. We aimed to evaluate the impact of CGJ on smoking-induced impairment of inflammatory and fibrinolytic status in healthy smokers. METHODS: We studied the effect of a 2-week oral treatment with CGJ in 26 healthy smokers on three occasions (day 0: baseline, day 7 and day 14) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design. Measurements were carried out before (pSm) and 20 min after (Sm20) cigarette smoking. Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) were measured as markers of inflammatory and fibrinolytic status, respectively. RESULTS: Treatment with CGJ reduced pSm sICAM-1 levels (p < 0.001), while placebo had no impact on ICAM-1 levels (p = 0.31). Moreover, treatment with CGJ decreased pSm values of PAI-1 (p < 0.001) while placebo had no impact on PAI-1 levels (p = 0.89). Smoking induced an elevation in PAI-1 levels after smoking compared to pro-smoking levels in all study days and in both arms (CGJ and placebo) of the study (p < 0.001 for all). Interestingly, CGJ compared to placebo, attenuated the acute smoking increase in sICAM-1 and PAI-1 levels (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: CGJ consumption improved inflammatory and fibrinolytic status in healthy smokers and attenuated acute smoking induced increase in ICAM-1 and PAI-1 levels. These findings shed further light on the favorable effects of flavonoids in cardiovascular health.

Favorable effects of concord grape juice on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in healthy smokers.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is associated with impaired vascular function. Concord grape juice (CGJ), a rich source of flavonoids, can modify cardiovascular risk factors. Endothelial function and arterial stiffness are surrogate markers of arterial health. We examined the impact of CGJ on arterial wall properties in healthy smokers. METHODS: We studied the effect of a 2-week oral treatment with CGJ in 26 healthy smokers on 3 occasions (day 0 (baseline), day 7, and day 14) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Measurements were taken before (pSm), immediately after (Sm0), and 20 minutes after (Sm20) cigarette smoking. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of aortic stiffness. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, treatment with CGJ resulted in a significant improvement in pSm values of FMD (P = 0.02) and PWV (P = 0.04). At baseline, smoking decreased FMD in both the CGJ group (P < 0.001) and the placebo group (P < 0.001). Compared with placebo, CGJ treatment prevented the acute smoking-induced decrease in FMD on day 7 (P = 0.02) and day 14 (P < 0.001). Moreover, at baseline, smoking induced a significant elevation in PWV in both the CGJ group (P = 0.02) and the placebo group (P = 0.04). Treatment with CGJ prevented the smoking-induced elevation in PWV on day 7 (P = 0.003) and day 14 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CGJ consumption improved endothelial function and vascular elastic properties of the arterial tree in healthy smokers and attenuated acute smoking-induced impairment of arterial wall properties.