Daily consumption of tart cherry juice may reduce processes involved in accelerated atherogenesis, potentially decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm pilot clinical trial, 19 men and women aged between 20 to 60 years who have metabolic syndrome participated. They were assigned to consume either 240ml of tart cherry juice or an isocaloric placebo-control drink twice daily for a period of 12 weeks. Initial evaluations on arterial stiffness (determined through pulse wave velocity), brachial and aortic blood pressures, wave reflection or augmentation index, and blood markers for cardiovascular and metabolic health were established as their baseline values.
Despite observing no significant alterations in hemodynamics, arterial stiffness, or other assessed blood biomarkers, there was a noted decrease in oxidized low-density lipoprotein and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels in the tart cherry juice group compared to the control group at the end of 12 weeks. In addition, there was a trending lower total cholesterol level in the tart cherry group versus the control at the end of the trial. These results suggest that daily tart cherry juice consumption may help decrease processes involved in the rapid progression of atherogenesis.
