This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial. Forty-four patients (11 women and 33 men, mean age 66 years) who survived myocardial infraction and have received statin therapy for at least 6 months (80 % dose of 40 mg/day simvastatin) were included in the study. The subjects were randomised to receive either 3× 85 mg/day of chokeberry flavonoid extract (Aronia melanocarpa E) or placebo for a period of 6 weeks. The study extract was a commercially-available (OTC) product of the following declared composition: anthocyans (about 25 % ), polymeric procyanidines (about 50 % ) and phenolic acids (about 9 % ).
Compared to placebo (ANOVA and Tukey's test), flavonoids significantly reduced serum 8-isoprostans (p < 0.000) and Ox-LDL levels (p < 0.000) (by 38 and 29 % , respectively), as well as hsCRP (p < 0.007) and MCP-1 (p < 0.001) levels (by 23 and 29 % , respectively). In addition, significant increase in adiponectin (p < 0.03) levels and reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure by a mean average of 11 and 7.2 mmHg, respectively were found.
In view of the fact that chokeberry flavonoids reduce the severity of inflammation, regardless of statins, they can be used clinically for secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease.