Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Low-calorie cranberry juice shown to improve several risk factors of cardiovascular disease in adults.
Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes are taking a considerable toll on the worldwide population. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide (1) (930,000 deaths annually in the United States (2) and more than 4 million deaths annually in Europe (3). Type 2 diabetes, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, affects 26 million Americans (4) with a worldwide estimate expected to reach 366 million by 2030 (5).
A new study (6) suggests that adding cranberry juice to your diet may be a way to improve some risk factors for both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study involved 56 subjects (30 men, 26 women) aged 39 to 62, with no diabetes, a body mass index between 20 and 38 kg/m2, triglycerides below 300 milligrams/deciliter, nonsmokers, and “in basic good health”. They consumed either 480 milliliters (240 mL twice daily) of low-calorie cranberry juice or a flavor-matched placebo for 8 weeks. Each daily intake of cranberry juice provided 246 milligrams of antioxidants called phenols (compared to 124 milligrams in the placebo drink) and 11.2 grams of total sugar versus 15 grams per day in the placebo drink.
After 8 weeks, the researchers found statistically significant decreases in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), an inflammatory protein called C-reactive protein, triglycerides, and a measure of blood sugar control called HOMA-IR:
| Cranberry | Placebo | p - value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diastolic BP (mm Hg) | 6.4% decrease (73.9 to 69.2) | 5.1% increase (68.1 to 71.6) | 0.048 |
| C-Reactive Protein (milligrams/L) | 26.3% decrease (0.708 to 0.522) | 24.6% increase (0.80 to 0.997) | 0.005 |
| Triglycerides (millimoles/L) | 10.2% decrease (1.28 to 1.15) | 2.4% decrease (1.28 to 1.25) | 0.027 |
| HOMA-IR | 2.3% decrease (1.8 to 1.76) | 4% increase (1.74 to 1.81) | 0.036 |
Suggesting that the high content of quercetin in cranberries may be the primary reason for these health benefits (7), the researchers concluded that “low-calorie cranberry juice can improve several risk factors of cardiovascular disease in adults” and that “Consumption of high-polyphenol products such as cranberry juice is a sustainable lifestyle practice that holds notable promise for improving health.”
Source: Novotny, Janet A., et al. “Cranberry juice consumption lowers markers of cardiometabolic risk, including blood pressure and circulating C-reactive protein, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations in adults.” The Journal of nutrition 145.6 (2015): 1185-1193.
© 2015 American Society for Nutrition.
Posted January 26, 2016.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com
References:
- Mathers C, Boerma T, Ma Fat D. The global burden of disease. Geneva (Switzerland): WHO; 2008
- Hoyert DL, Xu J. Deaths: preliminary data for 2011. National Vital Statistics Report. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2012
- Nichols M, Townsend N, Luengo-Fernandez R, Leal J, Gray A, Scarborough P, Rayner M. European cardiovascular disease statistics 2012. Brussels (Belgium): European Heart Network and European Society of Cardiology; 2012 N
- National Diabetes Fact Sheet: National estimates and general information on diabetes and pre-diabetes in the United States, 2011. Atlanta (GA): US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2011
- Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H. Global prevalence of diabetes: estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care 2004;27:1047–53.
- Novotny JA. Cranberry juice consumption lowers markers of cardiometabolic risk, including blood pressure and circulating C-reactive protein, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations in adults. J Nutr 2015 Jun;145(6):1185-93. doi: 10.3945/jn.114.203190. Epub 2015 Apr 22
- Vvedenskaya IO, Rosen RT, Guido JE, Russell DJ, Mills KA, Vorsa N. Characterization of flavonols in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) powder. J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:188–95.
