The Effects of Apple Derived Flavanols on Cardiovascular Disease Risk (FLAVASCULAR Study)

This study is a single arm randomized, 4-phase crossover design.

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women ≥ 50 years of age
• Systolic blood pressure 130 - 159 mmHg

Exclusion criteria

• History of cardiovascular events such as stroke, myocardial infarction trans- ischaemic attacks or peripheral vascular disease
• Kidney or liver disease/problems
• Diabetes
• Asthmatics (unless no medication taken for 1 year - occasional use will be assessed on an individual basis)
• Prescribed anti-hypertensive medication
• HRT (unless the participant has used the therapy for ≥ 6 months)
• Lipid lowering therapies e.g. statins
• Other medications that may affect any of the study outcome measures e.g. vasodilators (this will be assessed on a case by case basis)
• Current smoker (or stopped for less than 3 months)
• Throat surgery or neck injury
• Allergy to apples
• Consumption of fish oil supplements unless willing to discontinue them up for 4 weeks preceding the start of the study and for the duration of the study. (All other supplements will be assessed on a case by case basis)
• Gastro-intestinal diseases (excluding hiatus hernia unless symptomatic or study intervention/procedure is contra-indicated).
• Parallel participation in another research project which involves dietary intervention
• Participation in another research project which has involved blood sampling within the last four months unless the total amount of combined blood from both studies does not exceed 470 ml.
• Has donated or intends to donate blood within 16 weeks prior to or during the study period.
• Depressed or elevated blood pressure measurements (<90/50 or 95/55 if symptomatic or >160/100 (mmHg)) during the course of the trial.