Effects of Epicatechin on Statins for Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Exercise Capacity

Summary

The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the side-effects of statin consumption, and assess the ability of epicatechin (a compound in dark chocolate) to counteract or reverse these changes. The investigators' prior research has shown that epicatechin can improve skeletal muscle structure and mitochondrial (which gives us energy) structure.

Timeline

Start

2015-06

Primary completion

2021-07-28

Completion

2021-07-28

Publications

• Background Taub PR, Ramirez-Sanchez I, Ciaraldi TP, Perkins G, Murphy AN, Naviaux R, Hogan M, Maisel AS, Henry RR, Ceballos G, Villarreal F. Alterations in skeletal muscle indicators of mitochondrial structure and biogenesis in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure: effects of epicatechin rich cocoa. Clin Transl Sci. 2012 Feb;5(1):43-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-8062.2011.00357.x. Epub 2011 Nov 7.
• Background Yamazaki KG, Taub PR, Barraza-Hidalgo M, Rivas MM, Zambon AC, Ceballos G, Villarreal FJ. Effects of (-)-epicatechin on myocardial infarct size and left ventricular remodeling after permanent coronary occlusion. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010 Jun 22;55(25):2869-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2010.01.055.
• Background Nogueira L, Ramirez-Sanchez I, Perkins GA, Murphy A, Taub PR, Ceballos G, Villarreal FJ, Hogan MC, Malek MH. (-)-Epicatechin enhances fatigue resistance and oxidative capacity in mouse muscle. J Physiol. 2011 Sep 15;589(Pt 18):4615-31. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.209924. Epub 2011 Jul 25.
• Background Ramirez-Sanchez I, Nogueira L, Moreno A, Murphy A, Taub P, Perkins G, Ceballos GM, Hogan M, Malek M, Villarreal F. Stimulatory effects of the flavanol (-)-epicatechin on cardiac angiogenesis: additive effects with exercise. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2012 Nov;60(5):429-38. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e318269ae0d.
• Background Ramirez-Sanchez I, Taub PR, Ciaraldi TP, Nogueira L, Coe T, Perkins G, Hogan M, Maisel AS, Henry RR, Ceballos G, Villarreal F. (-)-Epicatechin rich cocoa mediated modulation of oxidative stress regulators in skeletal muscle of heart failure and type 2 diabetes patients. Int J Cardiol. 2013 Oct 9;168(4):3982-3990. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.06.089. Epub 2013 Jul 17.
• Background Taub PR, Ramirez-Sanchez I, Ciaraldi TP, Gonzalez-Basurto S, Coral-Vazquez R, Perkins G, Hogan M, Maisel AS, Henry RR, Ceballos G, Villarreal F. Perturbations in skeletal muscle sarcomere structure in patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes: restorative effects of (-)-epicatechin-rich cocoa. Clin Sci (Lond). 2013 Oct;125(8):383-9. doi: 10.1042/CS20130023.
• Background Barnett CF, Moreno-Ulloa A, Shiva S, Ramirez-Sanchez I, Taub PR, Su Y, Ceballos G, Dugar S, Schreiner G, Villarreal F. Pharmacokinetic, partial pharmacodynamic and initial safety analysis of (-)-epicatechin in healthy volunteers. Food Funct. 2015 Mar;6(3):824-33. doi: 10.1039/c4fo00596a.
• Background Ortiz-Vilchis P, Yamazaki KG, Rubio-Gayosso I, Ramirez-Sanchez I, Calzada C, Romero-Perez D, Ortiz A, Meaney E, Taub P, Villarreal F, Ceballos G. Co-administration of the flavanol (-)-epicatechin with doxycycline synergistically reduces infarct size in a model of ischemia reperfusion injury by inhibition of mitochondrial swelling. Eur J Pharmacol. 2014 Dec 5;744:76-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.09.042. Epub 2014 Oct 2.
• Background Gutierrez-Salmean G, Ciaraldi TP, Nogueira L, Barboza J, Taub PR, Hogan MC, Henry RR, Meaney E, Villarreal F, Ceballos G, Ramirez-Sanchez I. Effects of (-)-epicatechin on molecular modulators of skeletal muscle growth and differentiation. J Nutr Biochem. 2014 Jan;25(1):91-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.09.007. Epub 2013 Oct 18.
• Ormiston CK, Pazargadi A, Rosander A, Ceballos G, Villarreal F, Taub PR. Enhancement of Statin Effects on Lipid Lowering and Reduction of Cardiovascular Risk Score by (-)-Epicatechin in Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study. Clin Transl Sci. 2025 May;18(5):e70236. doi: 10.1111/cts.70236.

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