Stemming the Impact of Cardiovascular Disease

While awareness of heart disease and treatment options has improved, the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continue to increase and remain a concern around the globe. In the United States, nearly 80.7 million people have one or more forms of CVD and is the leading cause of death. One of every 2.8 deaths in the U.S. is due to CVD, outpacing cancer and HIV. Health care costs are also increasing with CVD costing $400 billion in direct and indirect costs in 2006. In Europe, more than 2 million people die annually from CVD and its incidence increasing at younger ages, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all premature deaths (sources: www.cdc.gov, Joint European Society on Cardio Disease).

Fortunately, scientific research on how diet can manage cardiovascular disease also continues to advance. Diane L. McKay, PhD and Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, researchers at the Antioxidant Research Laboratory at Tufts University, recently quantified the content of phenols and flavonols which are responsible for naturally reversing the processes that cause cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Cranberries Demonstrate Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

The research team at Tufts University further studied the antioxidant and inflammatory inhibition properties of blueberry and cranberry polyphenol extracts, specifically the anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids found in these fruits.

Researchers concluded the polyphenols in cranberries and blueberries protect endothelial cells from oxidative and inflammatory injury, providing benefits that may reduce the initiation and development of vascular disease.

Researchers continue to focus on the cranberry and determine the nutritional properties that are responsible for a multitude of health benefits, which had been perhaps best known for its impact on urinary tract health.

Source: Diane L. McKay, PhD, Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, “Cranberries and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Nutrition Review, Volume 65, No. 11).

New Cranberry Health Research

The Cranberry Institute tracks and funds cranberry health research around the globe. The CI also partners with industry organizations such as the Wisconsin Cranberry Board and Canadian Cranberry Growers Coalition, to fund research on the health benefits of the cranberry.

How Cranberries Promote Urinary Tract Health

Researchers led by Terri Camesano, PhD at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have demystified how cranberries prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The study, published in the current issue of Colloids and Surfaces: B, shows that the juice changes the thermodynamic properties of bacteria in the urinary tract to form an energy barrier that prevents infections from developing.

According to Dr. Camesano , “Our results show that, at least for urinary tract infections, cranberry juice targets the right bacteria—those that cause disease—but has no effect on non-pathogenic organisms (normal bacteria) in the gut.”

Dr. Camesano has additional research that shows cranberry juice has potent (but temporary) effects on other disease-causing bacteria, suggesting regular, such as daily consumption could be beneficial to patients. Her research further shows both regular cranberry juice cocktail and sugar-free cranberry juice work effectively to prevent UTIs. (source: Worcester Polytechnic Institute).