http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030326074425.htm
Study Provides New Evidence That Cranberry Juice May Help Fight Heart
Disease
NEW ORLEANS, March 24 There's more good news about cranberry juice:
Based on human studies, researchers have found that drinking three
glasses a day significantly raises levels of good cholesterol in the
blood and increases plasma antioxidant levels, reducing the risk of heart
disease.
Although researchers have long suspected, based on laboratory tests, that
the antioxidant-rich juice may help lower risk factors for heart disease,
no human studies had established such a link until now. Their findings,
the first long-term study of the effect of cranberry juice on cholesterol
levels, were described today at the 225th national meeting of the
American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
This study gives consumers another reason to consider drinking cranberry
juice, which has more health benefits than previously believed. People
should consider drinking it with their meals, perhaps as an alternative
to soda, says Joe Vinson, Ph.D., the study's lead author and a professor
of chemistry at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Penn.
Besides heart benefits, previous studies have shown that cranberries can
help prevent urinary tract infections and may reduce the risk of gum
disease, stomach ulcers and cancer.
In the current study, Vinson measured cholesterol levels in nineteen
subjects with high cholesterol after a fasting, baseline blood sampling,
followed by monthly samplings. Ten of the subjects were given cranberry
juice with artificial sweetener but without high fructose corn syrup,
while the other subjects drank cranberry juice with no added sugars. The
drinks tested all contained approximately 27 percent pure cranberry juice
by volume, like the common supermarket variety.
Each subject was fed one glass (8 ounces) of juice a day for the first
month, then two glasses a day for the next month, and three glasses a day
during the third month of the study. Subjects were not monitored with
respect to exercise, diet and alcohol consumption, the researcher says.
While there were no changes in overall cholesterol levels, good
cholesterol (high density lipoprotein, or HDL) appeared to significantly
increase by an average of 10 percent after three servings of juice per
day. Based on known epidemiological data on heart disease, this increase
corresponds to an approximate 40 percent reduction in heart disease risk,
says Vinson.
Plasma antioxidant capacity, a measure of the total amount of
antioxidants available for the body, was significantly increased by as
much as 121 percent after 2 or 3 servings of juice per day, he says.
Like elevated levels of good cholesterol, increased antioxidant levels
are also associated with a decreased risk of heart disease.
The mechanism by which cranberry juice changes cholesterol levels has not
been clearly established. Vinson suspects that the effect may have to do
with the fruit's high levels of polyphenols, a type of potent
antioxidant. Previous studies by the researcher have shown that
cranberries have among the highest levels of phenols in comparison to 20
of the most commonly consumed fruits.
Eventually, Vinson plans to test the effect of cranberry juice
consumption on subjects with normal cholesterol levels. To get the most
health benefit from the juice, the researcher recommends drinking a low
sugar version that contains an artificial sweetener.
If you don't like cranberry juice, there are other heart-healthy
alternatives. A recent study by another researcher showed that drinking
three cups of orange juice per day similarly increased levels of good
cholesterol. Unlike cranberry juice, however, it did not appear to
increase plasma antioxidant capacity, says Vinson.
As both juices are healthy, he suggests that people may want to include
both types as part of their daily diet.
Grape juice, another breakfast favorite, increases plasma antioxidant
capacity but appears to lower the level of good cholesterol, according to
another study by Vinson.
There are many other types of juice whose effect on cholesterol levels is
not known, he adds. But don't forget exercise: Studies have shown that
vigorous aerobic exercise has also been linked to increases in good
cholesterol, says Vinson.
The current study underscores government health recommendations that
people should eat more fruits and vegetables to help maintain a healthy
diet and lifestyle.
The Cranberry Institute provided funding for this study.
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