Abstract
In recent years, anthocyanin-rich diets have garnered increasing attention for their cardioprotective health benefits. The primary objective of this study is to systematically review the literature on the vasorelaxation effects of anthocyanins and evaluate their therapeutic potential in the prevention and management of cardiovascular-related diseases. To ascertain the rigor in its methodology, this systematic literature review (SLR) adhered to guidelines outlined in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); the research question was formulated based on the mnemonics of Population, Interest, and Context (PICO), the inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on timeline publication, document type, language, and focus of the study which is anthocyanin vasorelaxation effects on cardiovascular; the quality was appraised based on six criteria, namely: whether the study’s purpose was clearly stated, the interest and usefulness of the work were presented, the methodology was clearly established, the core concepts were clearly defined, the work was compared with similar studies, and the study’s limitations were clearly acknowledged. The quality assessment process was conducted by the lead researcher, with the assistance of two co-researchers. Data extraction and analysis were conducted using thematic analysis. The analytical outcomes yielded two main themes. First theme is anthocyanins in the prevention and management of specific CVD conditions, which consist of three sub-themes: atherosclerosis, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction. The second theme is bioavailability and metabolism of anthocyanins, which later produced another three sub-themes, namely absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), influence of gut microbiota, and active metabolites and parent compounds. Referring to this SLR, there is an urgent need to identify the key anthocyanin-derived metabolites and clarify how gut microbiota influences their bioconversion and efficacy in cardiovascular protection. Further well-controlled human studies with standardized dosing and metabolite profiling are essential to validate these mechanisms and support their integration into personalized nutrition strategies.
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