A new study just published in the Food & Function journal shows consuming 9 grams of freeze dried Cranberry powder which is equivalent to taking in 100 grams of fresh Cranberries, improved blood vessel function in healthy men in one month.
45 healthy men participated in this double-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled study. Participants were given Cranberry powder which contained 525 mg of polyphenols or a placebo. Participants were tested after their first dose and again after 1 month.
Researchers found that the participants supplementing their diet with Cranberry saw a significant improvement in blood vessel and heart function. FMD (flow-mediated dilation), a biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk and measures how blood vessels widen when blood flow increases, showed gains in the participants taking Cranberry when compared with the placebo group. Beneficial results were seen 2 hours after the first dose and continued throughout the whole study period. Additionally metabolites were also identified and actually predicted the positive effects researchers saw in FMD.
Researchers concluded that while low consumption of fruits and vegetables is one of the leading modifiable risk factors associated with worldwide cardiovascular disease, Cranberries and their unique proanthocyanidins seem to exhibit distinct properties compared to the polyphenols found in other fruits.
Cranberries are most often associated with urinary tract benefits, but new and growing evidence supports the idea that Cranberry’s PAC s (a-type proanthocyanidins) support the heart.
Further larger studies are needed.
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