食用富含甜菜红素的火龙果可改善男性和女性的血管功能：一项双盲、随机对照交叉试验。

Betalain-rich dragon fruit (pitaya) consumption improves vascular function in men and women: a double-blind, randomized controlled crossover trial.

作者信息

Cheok Alex, Xu Yifan, Zhang Zicheng, Caton Paul W, Rodriguez-Mateos Ana

机构信息

Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.

Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.

出版信息

Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 May 1;115(5):1418-1431. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab410.

DOI:10.1093/ajcn/nqab410

PMID:35265960

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Betalains are natural red color pigments abundant in red-fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus). Recent research has shown that dragon fruit consumption may help improve blood glucose and lipid profile. However, investigations of its cardioprotective properties in human trials, especially in nutritionally achievable amounts, remain nonexistent.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute and short-term consumption of dragon fruit on vascular function in a healthy population.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted in 19 young, healthy, nonsmoking men and women assigned to consume 24 g whole dragon fruit powder (33 mg betalains) or a nutrient-matched placebo, daily for 14 d. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), arterial stiffness, and blood pressure (BP) were measured at 0 h, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h and finally at 14 d after daily consumption.

RESULTS

A total of 18 participants completed the trial. Dragon fruit consumption significantly improved acute FMD at 2 h (+0.8 ± 0.3%, P = 0.01), 3 h (+1.0 ± 0.3%, P = 0.001), and 4 h (+1.3 ± 0.4%, P < 0.001) postconsumption compared with placebo. This effect was sustained up until 14 d (+1.3 ± 0.2%, P < 0.001). Pulse-wave velocity was acutely significantly reduced at 3 h (-0.5 ± 0.2 m/s, P = 0.003), whereas augmentation index (AIx) also improved after 14 d (-7.0 ± 3.3%, P = 0.02) when compared with placebo. No differences were found in either peripheral or central BP across all time points.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute and short-term consumption of dragon fruit in dietary achievable amounts improved endothelial function and arterial stiffness in healthy individuals. This implies that regular dragon fruit consumption may have a meaningful impact on cardiovascular disease risk likely due to the high betalain content. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03995602.

摘要

背景

甜菜色素是红肉火龙果（Hylocereus polyrhizus）中富含的天然红色素。最近的研究表明，食用火龙果可能有助于改善血糖和血脂状况。然而，在人体试验中，尤其是在可实现的营养摄入量下，对其心脏保护特性的研究仍然缺乏。

目的

本研究旨在调查急性和短期食用火龙果对健康人群血管功能的影响。

方法

对19名年轻、健康、不吸烟的男性和女性进行了一项随机、双盲、安慰剂对照的交叉试验，参与者被分配每天食用24克完整的火龙果粉（33毫克甜菜色素）或营养匹配的安慰剂，持续14天。在每天食用后的0小时、1小时、2小时、3小时、4小时以及最后14天时测量血流介导的血管舒张功能（FMD）、动脉僵硬度和血压（BP）。

结果

共有18名参与者完成了试验。与安慰剂相比，食用火龙果后2小时（+0.8±0.3%，P = 0.01）、3小时（+1.0±0.3%，P = 0.001）和4小时（+1.3±0.4%，P < 0.001）时，急性FMD显著改善。这种效果一直持续到14天（+1.3±0.2%，P < 0.001）。与安慰剂相比，3小时时脉搏波速度急性显著降低（-0.5±0.2米/秒，P = 0.003），而14天后增强指数（AIx）也有所改善（-7.0±3.3%，P = 0.02）。在所有时间点，外周血压或中心血压均未发现差异。