Effects of Phenolic Acids-Rich Brussels Chicory on Fasting and Postprandial Vascular Function, HDL Functions, and Subclass Profiles in Healthy Overweight Men: A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blind, Three-Way Crossover Study.

Phenolic acid (PA)-rich Brussels chicory leaves (BCL) promote endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-mediated flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in mice. However, it remains unknown whether BCL and also PA-rich Brussels chicory root (BCR) affect FMD in humans. Thirty-two healthy overweight men (aged 37.41 ± 0.87 years) consumed an isocaloric milk smoothie blended with 100 g of BCL containing 228 mg PA, 26.7 g of BCR containing 27 mg PA, or control maltodextrin for 1 week with a 1-week washout period. Before and after each diet phase, fasting and postprandial FMD, HDL functions, and size-defined subclass profiles (small pre-β₁-HDL, medium HDL₃, and large HDL₂) were assessed. Although neither BCL nor BCR consumption affected postprandial FMD, HDL cholesterol, and HDL₂ levels, they comparably improved postprandial HDL functions with increased eNOS activities and accelerated endothelial 7-ketocholesterol efflux, decreased pre-β₁-HDL, and increased HDL₃. Increased eNOS activities of postprandial HDL depended on its function in accelerating endothelial 7-ketocholesterol efflux, the latter inversely correlated to increased HDL₃ and negatively to decreased pre-β₁-HDL. In the fasting state, neither BCL nor BCR consumption affected FMD and any HDL-related biomarkers. Brussels chicory improves postprandial HDL functions and subclass profiles in healthy overweight men in spite of no change in FMD.