Hydroxytyrosol Caramel Treatment on Cardiovascular Risk Patients

A 10-week randomized, crossover, double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted between April 2022 and March 2023 in the Catholic University of Murcia Randomization divided the participants in two groups, depending on whether they started consuming the caramels supplemented with HT, or the group that started consuming the placebo caramels.

The patients totally consumed 60 mg of HT per day distributed into 4 caramels/day with 15 mg of HT per caramel. The caramels in treatment group contained encapsulated HT in cyclodextrins, xylitol sweetened. On the other hand, the caramels in placebo group contained cyclodextrins and they were xylitol sweetened too. Patients were segregated into 2 groups: the ones who started as HT-group and the ones who started as C-group.

HT-group consumed HT caramels for 28 days, while C-group consumed placebo caramels followed by a 2-week washout period. Suddenly, groups were switched for 28 days, the ones who started as HT-group became C-group and vice-versa. The patients completely performed 4 visits during the study. In every appointment, they had blood and faeces extraction with body composition measurement. In addition, a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) based on Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (MDSS) was given to the patients in order to assess diet variability during the study period.

Inclusion criteria

• Elevated cholesterol level: >200 mg/dL
• Elevated glucose level: >100 mg/dL

Exclusion criteria

• Not been under antihypertensive, antidiabetic and/or hypoglycaemic agents