A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial on the Metabolic and Vascular Effects of a Dietary Supplementation With Apple Polyphenols in Overweight Subjects

The study included a 2-week run-in period of diet standardization and an 8-week treatment period. At enrolment, patients were given standard behavioural and qualitative dietary suggestions to correct their unhealthy habits. In particular, subjects were strongly recommended to follow the general indications of a Mediterranean diet, avoiding an excessive intake of diary and red meat derived products and reducing the dietary excesses, in order to maintain an overall balanced diet for the entire duration of the study. Individuals were also encouraged to increase their physical activity by walking briskly or cycling from 3 to 5 times for week, at least 20 minutes every time.

The study fully complied with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Bologna. All patients signed a written informed consent to participate.

After 2 weeks of diet standardization, the enrolled subjects were allocated to the treatment with an indistinguishable pill of placebo or an active product, containing 300 mg of apple extract (Malus Domestica) with glycosilated polyphenols (≥90%) including glycosilated phloritzin (15-30%), chlorogenic acid (10-25%) and quercetin (15-25%) (kindly provided by Amitalia Srl, Solara, MI, Italy). Patients were asked to take the pills regularly, every day early in the morning. The amount of glycosilated polyphenols was assessed spectophotometrically at 280 nm, using synthetic catechin as standard. Glycosilated phloritzin, chlorogenic acid and quercetin were measured by HPCL-MS [high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry].

The randomization was performed 1:1 ratio and the blocks were stratified by sex and age. An alphabetical code was assigned to each lot code (corresponding to treatment or placebo) impressed on the dose box. The study staffs and the investigators, as well as all of the volunteers, were blinded to the group assignment. Codes were kept in a sealed envelope, which was not opened until the end of the trial. Dose boxes were mixed and a blinded dose box was assigned to each enrolled patient.

Patients were evaluated anamnestically and by the execution of a physical examination and laboratory analyses at the baseline, in the middle and at the end of the trial.