Effect of Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin on the Antioxidant Status and Lung Function of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background/Aim: Evidence exists that oxidative stress and oxidative damage play a pivotal role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) extracted from grape seeds have been shown to exhibit antioxidant capabilities greater than those of vitamin C and E. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of OPCs on antioxidant status and lung function in patients with COPD. Patients and Methods: Patients were supplemented with 150 mg/day OPC (n=13) orally or with a placebo (n=14) for 8 weeks in a randomized double-blind clinical design. Changes in anthropometric values, lung function, oxidative state, and lipid profiles were assessed after OPC or placebo treatment for 8 weeks. Results: The results showed that OPC supplementation significantly reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and total cholesterol (TC)/high- density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio. The concentration of HDL-C significantly increased in the OPC- treated group. The plasma triglyceride, TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values and the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase also decreased, but did not significantly differ between the OPC- and placebo-treated groups. Lung function was not significantly different between the two groups after 8 weeks. Conclusion: OPC supplementation was effective in increasing the antioxidant capacity, in addition to improving the lipid profiles in patients with COPD.