A new research trial indicated that eating cranberries on a regular basis for one month enhanced cardiovascular function in healthy males.

The new study, which was published in Food & Function, recruited 45 healthy males who consumed either whole cranberry powder equivalent to 100g of fresh cranberries daily (9 g powder) or a placebo for one month.

The flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of those who ate cranberries increased significantly, indicating improved heart and blood vessel function.

FMD analyzes how blood arteries widen when blood flow increases and is considered a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk.

“The increases in polyphenols and metabolites in the bloodstream and the related improvements in flow-mediated dilation after cranberry consumption emphasise the important role cranberries may play in cardiovascular disease prevention,” explains Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, the study’s senior author.

“The fact that these improvements in cardiovascular health were seen with an amount of cranberries that can be reasonably consumed daily makes cranberry an important fruit in the prevention of cardiovascular disease for the general public.”

Low fruit and vegetable consumption is one of the top modifiable risk factors linked to a greater incidence of cardiovascular disease around the world. The polyphenols found in berries are increasingly being linked to heart health benefits. Cranberries contain unique proanthocyanidins, which differ from polyphenols found in other fruits in terms of their qualities.

This study looked at the effects of whole cranberry freeze-dried powder, which is comparable to 100g of fresh cranberries, on cardiovascular health. The findings showed that including cranberries in a balanced diet can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by enhancing blood vessel function.

Five healthy young males were recruited for an initial pilot trial to confirm the freeze-dried whole cranberry powder’s biological activity. The pilot demonstrated that eating cranberries increased the risk of FMD and established dosing.

The primary trial used a gold standard study design, with 45 healthy males eating two packets of whole cranberry freeze-dried powder equivalent to 100g of fresh cranberries every day for one month or a placebo.

The study discovered significant improvements in FMD two hours after the first intake and after one month of daily intake, indicating both immediate and long-term benefits. Furthermore, metabolites were discovered, which indicated the favorable effects reported in FMD.

These findings suggest that cranberries may play a significant role in cardiovascular health and blood vessel function.

“Our findings provide solid evidence,” adds Dr. Christian Heiss, co-author of the study, “that cranberries can significantly affect vascular health even in people with low cardiovascular risk. This study further indicates that specific metabolites present in blood after cranberry consumption are related to the beneficial effects.”

Source: 10.1039/D2FO00080F

Image Credit: Getty

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