Drinking Cranberry Juice May Protect the Heart

For the first time, investigators have seen improvements in endothelial function in a dose-dependent manner associated with cranberry juice consumption in healthy individuals, according to the results of a recent study.Improving vascular function reduces the chance of developing atherosclerosis and plays an important role in kidney function, hormone delivery, and waste filtration.

“This is a promising and important area of research,” said principal investigator Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, PhD, from the division of cardiology, pulmonology, and vascular medicine at the University of Duesseldorf, Germany. “This study adds to a growing body of evidence on cranberry and heart health.”
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With cranberry juice being a rich source of phytonutrients, Rodriguez-Mateos and her colleagues sought to evaluate the immediate vascular impact of drinking a 16 ounce glass of juice with a range of concentrations of cranberry-polyphenols. In the randomized, controlled crossover study, 10 healthy men between 18 and 40 years old drank 450 ml of sweetened cranberry juice in several different concentrations, ranging from 0% to 117%. The amount of cranberry-polyphenols increased with the concentration.

The researchers used flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) to test vascular function, and also tested blood pressure and arterial stiffness at baseline and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after consumption. They also collected blood and urine samples for 24 hours following consumption.

All the cranberry juices improved FMD, and the highest concentration of cranberry-polyphenol juice also helped with systolic blood pressure, said Rodriguez-Mateos, noting two surprises from the study. The participants experienced positive effects even at 8 hours post-consumption, and the benefits came at 25% cranberry juice—equivalent to common cranberry juice cocktail.

Beyond protecting the heart, cranberry juice promotes urinary tract health, Rodriguez-Mateos concluded. “Consumers can choose to drink cranberry juice as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.”

-Mike Bederka

Reference:

Rodriguez-Mateos A. Intake and time-dependent effects of cranberry (poly)phenol consumption in vascular function in healthy individuals. Paper presented at: Cranberry Health Research Conference, Madison, Wis. Oct. 12, 2015.