Red wine onion extract demonstrates potent cardioprotective properties

A new red wine onion extract can protect the heart from cardiovascular disease, reports Taiwanese researchers. The extract contains phytochemicals from its two natural ingredients, and these natural compounds possess powerful antioxidant activity that reduces the risk of contracting heart disease.

The researchers were supported by the Chung Shan Medical University. They published their findings in the journal Phytotherapy Research.

• Red wine onion and red wine underwent evaluation for their Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and their ability to scavenge DPPH and H2O2 oxidants. Both extracts displayed the highest possible antioxidant capacity during the in vitro studies.
• Healthy volunteers diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia were randomly assigned to two test groups. One group was given 250 milliliters (mL) of red wine onion extract each day while the other group took an equal amount of red wine. The in vivo study lasted for 10 weeks.
• None of the participants showed major changes in their body mass, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and height. This showed the extract did not affect normal anthropometric parameters.
• Both red wine and the red wine onion extract raised the antioxidant levels in their respective groups. They also delayed the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, thereby reducing the chances of heart disease.
• Furthermore, the extract greatly decreased the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The extract also positively modulated biomarkers connected with inflammation.

Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that red wine onion extract outperformed red wine thanks to its ability to control cholesterol, antioxidant activity, and reduce inflammation. They recommended taking red wine and onion together to maximize the cardioprotective effect.

Discover more heart-friendly benefits of onions and red wine at ReverseHeartDisease.news.

Journal Reference

Chiu HF, Shen YC, Huang TY, Venkatakrishnan K, Wang CK. CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF RED WINE EXTRACT OF ONION IN HEALTHY HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC SUBJECTS. Phytotherapy Research. 2015;30(3):380–385. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5537.