Annurca apple polyphenolic extract could be a promising natural and safe tool for treatment of symptoms related to peripheral arterial disease. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic process involving both modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors. Prospective cohort studies show that patients with PAD have a 6-fold greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those without PAD. Currently, there is no effective treatment for PAD. The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, involving 180 patients, aged 35 to 75. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. One group underwent 24 weeks of nutraceutical treatment consisting in the administration of 4 capsules of Annurca apple polyphenolic extract (AMS)/day. The placebo group was administered with identically appearing capsules containing only maltodextrin. Primary outcome measures were: walking autonomy, ankle-brachial index, acceleration time. In the AMS group, at the end of the treatment period, walking autonomy was increased on average by 69% (p<0.05), while slighter effects were registered as regards ankle-brachial index (+25%; p<0.05) and acceleration time (-3.6%; p<0.05), when compared with baseline. Placebo group revealed no significant differences as regards variations of all outcomes measures (p>0.05). Our preliminary results may indicate AMS product as a promising natural and safe tool for treatment of symptoms related to PAD.