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Low-calorie cranberry juice lowered BP in healthy adults
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Regular consumption of low-calorie cranberry juice appears to improve BP in healthy adults, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions in Washington, D.C.
Janet A. Novotny and colleagues conducted an 8-week, parallel-arm, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that included 56 healthy volunteers (30 women; mean age, 51 years; mean body weight, 79.3 kg; mean BMI, 28.4). Low-calorie cranberry juice or a placebo beverage was incorporated into the controlled diets of the volunteers. Volunteers also consumed a base diet that consisted of typical American foods, scaled to meet their individual energy requirements, according to the study abstract. BP was measured at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks.
At 8 weeks, diastolic BP was significantly lower for participants assigned low-calorie cranberry juice compared with participants assigned placebo (least squares means [LSmeans] ± standard error of mean [SEM] of 72.2 ± 1.1 mm Hg for placebo vs. 68.6 ± 1.1 mm Hg for cranberry juice, respectively, P=.029). Compared with baseline, the cranberry juice group experienced a significant decrease in diastolic BP (73.9 mm Hg at baseline vs. 70.9 mm Hg at 8 weeks; P=.049) with a trend toward decreased systolic BP (121.9 mm Hg at baseline vs. 118.6 mm Hg at 8 weeks; P=.12). Placebo was associated with no change from baseline in either systolic BP (111.5 mm Hg at baseline vs. 112.3 mm Hg at 8 weeks; P=.89) or diastolic BP (68.1 mm Hg at baseline vs. 68.6 mm Hg at 8 weeks; P=.37).
For more information:
Novotny JA. Abstract #299. Presented at: the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions; Sept. 19-22, 2012; Washington, D.C.
Disclosure: The study was funded by Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. Baer and Novotny received research grants from Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., and treatment beverages were provided by Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. Khoo is employed by Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. Gebauer reports no relevant financial disclosures.