Cranberry Juice Improves Inflammation, Glucoregulation, and HDL Cholesterol in Overweight Individuals

by | Oct 21, 2019 | 2019, Antioxidants, Cardiovascular Health, Flavonoids, Fruits and Vegetables

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. An acute dose of low calorie, high polyphenol cranberry beverage improved antioxidant status, while 8 week daily consumption significantly reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors by improving glucoregulation, downregulating inflammatory biomarkers, and increasing HDL cholesterol.

cranberriesAbundant in flavonoids and phenolic acids, cranberries are a superfood with wide-ranging benefits, particularly anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities 1,2. Although cranberries are most notable for their protective role in urinary tract infections 3, emerging research now shows evidence of favorable effects in relation to cardiometabolic disorders as well, including type 2 diabetes, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome 4-6.  Not only do polyphenol-rich cranberries show the ability to reduce glycemic response and improve glucoregulation by slowing the uptake of glucose 7, their capacity to increase plasma antioxidant capacity and reduce inflammation biomarkers 8 offers powerful protection against key risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies looking at the effects of cranberry supplementation on obesity and central adiposity (CVD factors not necessarily associated with an active disease condition) warrant further research 9,10. Promising evidence from a 2015 study suggests that chronic intake of cranberry juice over a period of 8 weeks is able to improve fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance, fasting serum triglycerides, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in overweight individuals 11. In a follow-up study 12 by researchers in Washington State University (2019), a randomized trial was conducted to determine the impact of daily cranberry consumption on glucoregulation, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in overweight but otherwise healthy subjects.

A total of 78 participants (mean age 43.1 years) with a body mass index (BMI) of 27-35 kg/m2 and abdominal adiposity (waist: hip ratio > 0.8 for women and > 0.9 for men) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to ingest 450 mL of a low-calorie, high polyphenol cranberry extract beverage (CEB) or an identical placebo drink daily for 8 weeks. One to two weeks prior to the baseline visit, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was conducted to determine glucose and insulin response in the absence of the test beverages. The OGTT was also conducted at baseline and at 8-week follow-up, following consumption of a single dose of either CEB or the placebo beverage. Blood and urine samples were collected during all OGTT challenges, as well as at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. Serum glucose and insulin were quantified, and insulin resistance was assessed using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Lipid profile was determined and markers of oxidative stress identified (e.g., total nitric oxide, NO; endothelin-1, ET-1).

Analyses revealed a significant main effect of treatment after 8 weeks, with lower serum insulin levels observed in the CEB group, compared to placebo (p < 0.05). Fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was also found to be 8% higher in the CEB group, relative to placebo, at the end of 8 weeks (p < 0.05). At baseline, a single dose of CEB led to a significant increase in interferon-gamma (cytokine involved in immunoregulation) (p < 0.05), lower ET-1 (vasoconstrictor) (p < 0.05), and elevation of NO (vasodilator) (p < 0.05). After 8 weeks, fasting CRP (biomarker of inflammation) was also 22% lower in the CEB group vs. placebo (2.55 +/- 0.29 µg/mL vs. 3.27 +/- 0.51 µg/mL, p < 0.05).

Findings suggest that consumption of CEB, in acute doses and over time through daily intake, may effectively reduce a wide range of CVD risk factors in overweight subjects. Researchers found that a single dose of CEB at baseline was able to improve antioxidant capacity and vasodilation, while chronic consumption over the course of 8 weeks led to improved HDL-C, enhanced glucoregulation, and a downregulation of inflammatory biomarkers. Results, therefore, confirm the benefits of cranberries, in the form of a low-calorie, polyphenol-rich beverage, for cardiometabolic health. Potential study limitations include the use of a relatively limited sample size and a shorter follow-up period in the present trial.

Source: Chew, Boon, Bridget Mathison, Lindsey Kimble, Diane McKay, Kerrie Kaspar, Christina Khoo, C-Y. Oliver Chen, and Jeffrey Blumberg. “Chronic consumption of a low calorie, high polyphenol cranberry beverage attenuates inflammation and improves glucoregulation and HDL cholesterol in healthy overweight humans: a randomized controlled trial.” European journal of nutrition 58, no. 3 (2019): 1223-1235. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-018-1643-z.

Open Access: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons .org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted October 21, 2019.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

References:

  1. Ghiringhelli F, Rebe C, Hichami A, Delmas D. Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory roles of polyphenols as anticancer agents. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry-Anti-Cancer Agents). 2012;12(8):852-873.
  2. McKay DL, Blumberg JB. Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Nutrition reviews. 2007;65(11):490-502.
  3. Wang C-H, Fang C-C, Chen N-C, et al. Cranberry-containing products for prevention of urinary tract infections in susceptible populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Archives of internal medicine. 2012;172(13):988-996.
  4. Lee I, Chan Y, Lin C, Lee W, Sheu WHH. Effect of cranberry extracts on lipid profiles in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic medicine. 2008;25(12):1473-1477.
  5. Flammer AJ, Martin EA, Gössl M, et al. Polyphenol-rich cranberry juice has a neutral effect on endothelial function but decreases the fraction of osteocalcin-expressing endothelial progenitor cells. Eur J Nutr. 2013;52(1):289-296.
  6. Basu A, Betts NM, Ortiz J, Simmons B, Wu M, Lyons TJ. Low-energy cranberry juice decreases lipid oxidation and increases plasma antioxidant capacity in women with metabolic syndrome. Nutrition Research. 2011;31(3):190-196.
  7. Shidfar F, Heydari I, Hajimiresmaiel SJ, Hosseini S, Shidfar S, Amiri F. The effects of cranberry juice on serum glucose, apoB, apoA-I, Lp (a), and Paraoxonase-1 activity in type 2 diabetic male patients. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. 2012;17(4):355.
  8. Ruel G, Pomerleau S, Couture P, Lamarche B, Couillard C. Changes in plasma antioxidant capacity and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in men after short-term cranberry juice consumption. Metabolism. 2005;54(7):856-861.
  9. Ruel G, Lapointe A, Pomerleau S, et al. Evidence that cranberry juice may improve augmentation index in overweight men. Nutrition research. 2013;33(1):41-49.
  10. Ruel G, Pomerleau S, Couture P, Lemieux S, Lamarche B, Couillard C. Favourable impact of low-calorie cranberry juice consumption on plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations in men. British Journal of Nutrition. 2006;96(2):357-364.
  11. Novotny JA, Baer DJ, Khoo C, Gebauer SK, Charron CS. 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. 2015:jn203190.
  12. Chew B, Mathison B, Kimble L, et al. Chronic consumption of a low calorie, high polyphenol cranberry beverage attenuates inflammation and improves glucoregulation and HDL cholesterol in healthy overweight humans: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 2019;58(3):1223-1235.