The study included 15 healthy men, with an average age of 25, in which researchers tested the effect of a single dose of blackcurrant extract containing 210 mg of anthocyanins (plant pigments that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties) on cardiovascular and metabolic indicators, both at rest and during moderate walking on a treadmill.
Two hours after consuming the extract, the researchers observed a decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance in some participants, with 9 participants experiencing a decrease in this indicator of approximately 17.5%, while eight others experienced an increase in cardiac output.
However, during a 30-minute walk, no significant effect of this extract was observed, as the heart rate decreased by only two beats per minute, a change described by researchers as negligible. The extract also did not affect oxygen consumption or fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
Researchers confirm that a single dose of blackcurrant may affect blood vessel regulation in a subset of individuals, but achieving a sustained effect likely requires regular consumption, stressing the need for broader research on this topic.
