Evidence supporting the use of: Epicatechin
For the health condition: Circulation (poor)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Epicatechin is a flavonoid found in foods such as cocoa, green tea, and certain fruits. There is emerging scientific evidence suggesting that epicatechin may support circulation, primarily through its effects on endothelial function and nitric oxide bioavailability. Several small clinical studies and animal experiments have shown that epicatechin can enhance the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow. For example, research involving healthy adults consuming high-flavanol cocoa demonstrated improved flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a marker of vascular health, and these effects have been attributed in part to epicatechin content.
However, while some positive data exist, most clinical studies are small, short-term, and often use cocoa products containing a mixture of flavanols, not purified epicatechin. There are also studies suggesting benefits in populations with cardiovascular risk factors, but robust, large-scale trials specifically isolating epicatechin’s effects are lacking. Thus, while the mechanism is plausible and early data are promising, the overall evidence for using epicatechin specifically to treat or support poor circulation remains limited but suggestive.
In summary, the scientific basis for epicatechin’s use in supporting circulation is present but not definitive, with a need for larger and more rigorous human trials to establish clear efficacy and optimal dosing.
Other ingredients used for Circulation (poor)
Acetyl L-carnitineAjoene
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
amino acids
anthocyanins
arjun tree
ashwagandha
asparagus
astaxanthin
astragalus
beet
bergamot
berry flavor
bilberry
black cumin
black currant
black garlic
black pepper
sesame
black tea
blueberry
bromelain
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butcher's broom
caffeine
capsaicinoids
cat's claw
caterpillar mushroom
celery
chen pi
cherry
Chinese salvia root
chokeberry
cinnamon
citrus bioflavonoids
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
clove
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coleus forskohlii
cordyceps
turmeric
curcumin
d-alpha tocopherol
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
diallyl trisulfide (DATS)
dong quai root
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
fish oil
fish protein
flavonols
flaxseed
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
garlic bulb
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gooseberry
gotu kola
grape
onion
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
hawthorn
hesperetin
hesperidin
hibiscus
horse chestnut
horseradish
Indian tinospora
iron
knotweed
kudzu
L-arginine
l-carnitine
L-citrulline
lovage
mackerel
magnesium
Marine lipid
Moringa
mustard seed
Naringin
Nattokinase
Nettle
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
orange
oyster mushroom
pine bark
policosanol
pomegranate
quercetin
redcurrant
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rhizome
rose hips
rosemary
rutin
safflower oil
sardines
shiitake mushroom
black ginger
spinach
tocotrienols
Triphala
ubiquinol
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vegetable blend (proprietary)
vitamin B
vitamin E
seaweed
Water
Watercress
Watermelon
Mulberry
sarsaparilla
suma
jiaogulan
tangerine
gastrodia
cardamom
atractylodes
capsicum
Indian bael
inula racemosa
punarnava
commiphora
smilax
blackboard tree
Caesalpinia crista
peony
lingzhi
Szechuan lovage
prickly ash
siler root
cistanche
dioscorea
dodder
ganoderma
Morinda
zanthoxylum
birch
polyphenols
purslane
Yerba mate
biota seed
goji berry
herbal blend (proprietary)
Sichuan pepper
Yohimbe
cocoa
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
enzymes blend (proprietary)
cayenne pepper
ashitaba
2-(nitrooxy)ethyl 2-amino-3-methylbutanoate
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Aralia
arjuna
arginine alpha ketoglutarate
antler
Autumn elaeagnus
arginine creatine
Arginine nitrate
Angelica
Aronia melanocarpa
Allicin
Arginine aspartate
Achyranthes
Auricularia
Adrenergic amines
alpha-lipoic acid
astragaloside
anthocyanidins
Asteraceae
arjunic acid
Alliin
anthocyanosides
Allium tuberosum
Arginine silicate
atractylone
bishop\'s weed
Butea monosperma
black galingale
berry
bur-reed
bioflavonoids
bee products
Buddha\'s hand
Buckwheat
Bassia scoparia
Boerhavia diffusa
borneol
coumarin
Centella triterpenes
Chinese silkvine
Cinnamomum
Chinese mountain ant
carqueja
calycosin
capsinoids
Codonopsis
capillary artemisia
cyanidin
Curcuminoid
Citrus
capsaicin
catecholamine
cowherb
curcumen
Centella asiatica
coca
chocolate
Curcuma
chestnut
cinnamaldehyde
costus
Carthamus
cola nut
currant
diallyl sulfide
Diosmin
dismutase
danshen
dong quai
date
diosmetin
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
epicatechin
Eupolyphaga sinensis
elk antler
evodiamine
eicosapentaenoic acid
essential oil blend
ephedrine
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
European five-finger grass
Echium
fruit
flavonoids
fo-ti
flat-stem milk-vetch
fatty acids
fungus
flavanones
Fagopyrum
flavoglycosides
flavans
forskolin
flavonones
flavanols
flavones
Ginsenosides
Glycoside
Gypenoside
garlic
Growth factors
ginkgo flavone glycoside
Hygrophila
heal-all
hazelnut
hydroxytyrosol
Herb Robert
Huang hua
inositol nicotinate
Ilex
long pepper
icariin
Indian kinotree
kola nut
lumbrokinase
Ligustrazin
Ligusticum
Monacolin
mandarin
maral root
Mountain Pepper
Mustard
mace
Monounsaturated fat
Mistletoe
Marine fat
Mate
Mushroom
Nutmeg
Oleuropein
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
Oxystelma
Piperine
Puerarin
Piper chaba
Phenylpropanoids
Phaeophyceae
procyanidol
procyanidin
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Polydatin
proanthocyanidins
Propionyl-L-Carnitine
polyunsaturated fat
Pepper
Pyrrosia
Phthalides
Piper retrofractum
punicalagins
paeoniflorin
Pycnogenol
Pistachio
Polygonum
Ruscus
rockweed
Ruscogenins
Rutosides
ribose
Rosa roxburghii
Sichuan Lovage
Sete sangrias
Serrapeptase
Southern Tsangshu
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Salmon Oil
Salidroside
Salvianolic acid
Shogaol
Schisandrins
Spatholobus
saponins
Sumac
Sulfated polysaccharide
Shilajit
S-allylcysteine
Sweet Orange alcohol
Terminalia
Theobromine
Tea
Taxifolin
Troxerutin
Triterpenes
Taxillus chinensis
Tanshinone
Taraxacum
Vinburnine
Vincamine
Withanolides
Wulinshen
Xantinol Nicotinate
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Xanthone
Yohimbine
Zucchini
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by epicatechin
Aging (prevention)Alzheimer's Disease
Arteriosclerosis
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cardiovascular Disease
Circulation (poor)
Diabetes
Fatty Liver Disease
Free Radical Damage
Hypertension
Inflammation
Memory and Brain Function
Osteoporosis
Ulcers
Wounds and Sores