(-)-Epicatechin-Based Nutraceutical Improves Cardiovascular Risk in Postmenopausal Women

Published December 2023

A single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept clinical study evaluating the effects of 3 months of treatment with an (−)-epicatechin-enriched cacao supplement on lipoprotein subfractions.

Note that the formulation and dosage of (-)-epicatechin used in this clinical study are relevant to our key ingredient, Mitokatylst™ in the product Mitokatylst™ – E.

Results showed improvement in the cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women by decreasing pro-atherogenic small and very small LDL-c particles.

Analysis of lipoprotein fractionation was done using gas-phase electrophoresis.

Key Takeaways

After 12 weeks, the placebo group did not have any significant changes in LDL peak size; however, the group that received the (-)-epicatechin-enriched cacao had significant increases in LDL peak size thus suggesting a change toward a decrease in cardiovascular risk.
Biomarkers of regulated inflammatory and immune responses (TNF-α) and damage and disease severity [syndecan-1 (A,B)] also decreased significantly in the actively treated group.
The concentration of polysulfides [markers of the gas hydrogen sulfide acting as a significant endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)], whose expression parallels endothelial function increased by more than double in the treated group.

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Authors Nayelli Nájera, Miguel Ortíz-Flores, Javier Pérez-Durán, Enrique Reyes-Muñoz, José Romo-Yañez, Guillermo Ortiz-Luna, Francisco Villarreal, Eduardo Meaney, Guillermo Ceballos, Araceli Montoya-Estrada