The first in human study evaluating polyphenol rich juice for reducing blood pressure was recently published with interesting results.
Bright colored fruits and vegetables contain a variety of polyphenols that have been suggested to lower the risk of heart disease.
More specifically, it is the polyphenols that are believed to protect blood vessels against cardiovascular disease.
One possible mechanism for polyphenols reducing cardiovascular disease is through the relaxation of blood vessels.
The study described below was designed to assess the role of polyphenol rich juices in reducing blood pressure.
Click here to see a list of articles reporting on the results of clinical trials with plant medicine.
In this particular, the study juices contained red grapes, cherries, chokeberries and bilberries and were evaluated for their blood pressure lowering ability.
The results of this study were published in the peer reviewed British Journal of Nutrition.
Here are the study details
– Double blind randomized placebo-controlled study
– 153 were randomized to the study juices (placebo or active juices)
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– Commercially available juice product containing red grape (Vitis vinifera, 67·7 %), chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa, 14·5 %), cherry (Prunus cerasium, 12 %) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus, 5·8 %)
– Subjects were randomly assigned to a study group consuming 500 ml/d of (1) placebo; (2) Optijuice; or (3) MANA Blue for 12 weeks.
– Blood pressure was monitored during the study
– The total content of polyphenols was determined with the Folin–Ciocalteu’s method and determined as gallic acid equivalents in mg/100 g of
– Individual polyphenol compounds were analyzed
Here are the results of the study
– Systolic BP significantly reduced over time (6 and 12 weeks, respectively) in the pooled juice group compared with the placebo group in the first of the three measurements
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– Both for the whole study group (6·9 and 3·4 mmHg; P= 0·01) and even more pronounced in the hypertensive subjects when analyzed separately (7·3 and 6·8 mmHg; P= 0·04).
– Systolic blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure (i.e. hypertensive) was reduced by 7.3 mmHg
– Diastolic blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure (i.e. hypertensive) was reduced by 6.8 mmHg
– ALAT, a liver damage marker, was significantly reduced in only the Optijuice groups, containing blackcurrant.
Here are comments by the author
In the present study, the polyphenol-rich juice significantly reduced SBP1 in a group of middle-aged individuals. The reduction was more pronounced in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects.
and
Our results suggest that a possible mechanism of the beneficial effects of fruits and berries for CVD protection could be through reduction of the stress-sensitive BP and not necessarily reduction of the resting BP. If future studies can confirm these findings, we suggest that such juice may be beneficial for subjects with high BP and may contribute to postpone introduction of hypertensive drugs.
Take away message
The results of this study suggest that a juice rich in polyphenols from grape, cherries, bilberries, chokeberries and blackcurrant imay reduce blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The results of this study suggest that the blood pressure lowering effect of polyphenol rich juice was best in hypertensive patients than patients with normal blood pressure.
Click here to see a list of articles reporting on the results of clinical trials with plant medicine.
Reference:
Polyphenol-rich juices reduce blood pressure measures in a randomised controlled trial in high normal and hypertensive volunteers. British Journal of Nutrition. 2015; Volume 114 (Issue 7): Pages 1054-63.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Antioxidant, Blood Pressure, Clinical Trials, Heart