Abstract
Although erythrocyte filterability is a determinant of microcirculation, this notion has not been verified quantitatively so far. Therefore, we investigated the correlation of erythrocyte filterability and microcirculation in 10 males with life style-related diseases. For these subjects, we investigated the effects of oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) on erythrocyte filterability using a nickel mesh filtration technique and on skin microcirculation using laser Doppler flowmetry. The correlation of erythrocyte filterability and microcirculation was analyzed. The erythrocyte filterability before the intake of OPCs (64.6±14.5%) became 69.8±7.7% 1 week after starting intake, and was significantly improved 2 weeks after intake (77.3±5.6%, p<0.02). Correspondingly, laser Doppler flowmeter signals were significantly augmented 1 week (1515±138 mV, p<0.001) and 2 weeks (1570±128 mV, p<0.001) after intake compared with that before intake (1335±126 mV). Furthermore, we found a good correlation (R=0.92) between the improvement of filterability and augmentation of microcirculation. The present study shows that the combined studies involving the nickel mesh filtration technique and laser Doppler flowmetry are relevant for evaluating the rheologic functions of nutritional foods from in vitro and in vivo standpoints. [Jpn J Physiol 55 Suppl:S86 (2005)]
