EAST WAREHAM, MA, November 14, 2006 -- Researchers studying
the health benefits of cranberries gathered at the Cranberry Health Research
Conference, convened by the Cranberry Institute, to discuss a wide spectrum of
emerging work. Prominent scientists from across North America met in Charleston,
SC, to share current findings and new research into the cranberry’s role
in helping maintain health and prevent a number of diseases and infections. The
Institute assembled researchers in the fields of cardiovascular health, cancer
prevention, urinary tract health, oral health, neuroscience, aging, immunology
and food safety.
“As a nutrition scientist interested in the health benefits
of colorful fruits and vegetables, it is gratifying to see research
emerging on scientific studies regarding the beneficial effects
of cranberries," stated David Heber, MD, PhD, FACP, FACN,
who serves as a Scientific Advisory Board member to the Cranberry
Institute, is the founding Chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition
in the Department of Medicine and the Founding Director of the
UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, as well as a Professor of Medicine
and Public Health at UCLA.
Researchers studying the compositional issues of the cranberry
as they relate to health benefits shared work being conducted at
all levels, from basic chemistry to clinical studies, in order
to better evaluate this unique berry. Studies reviewed at
the conference included:
- Inhibition of E. coli - University
of Maine research into the antimicrobial effect of cranberry
concentrate found the concentrate significantly inhibits the
growth of E. coli O157:H7as well as other types of bacteria
found in food and in the body. This preliminary research
may be of interest regarding food safety given the growing concern
and need to control foodborne pathogens, particularly through
natural antimicrobial compounds and natural preservatives.
- Boosting effect of flu vaccine - A pilot clinical
study to be conducted by the University of California, Davis,
starting this month will investigate the immune system-boosting
potential of cranberry juice by evaluating how elderly subjects
respond to influenza vaccine. Data on the amount of antioxidants
found in different fruits clearly indicate that cranberries have
the highest content per serving of polyphenols, making them the
best candidate to potentially counteract aging of the immune
system. Scientists hypothesize that a specific nutritional
supplement, potentially cranberry, for the elderly may produce
a stronger immune system.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Updates
on several of the 12 studies being funded by the NIH, including
nine from the Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine’s (NCCAM) landmark multi-million dollar research
initiative. The body of research being conducted is primarily
to examine the unique activity of cranberry in preventing adhesion
of certain disease-causing bacteria to cells and tissues in the
body. Once completed, the data will include the largest clinical
trial of Cranberry Juice Cocktail (CJC) on preventing urinary
tract infection (UTI) in otherwise healthy women.
- Anti-aging properties - The latest research
into the anti-aging properties of cranberry, including a cross-species
study supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH,
National Institute on Aging and the Cranberry Institute.
- Inhibiting gum disease - A study examining
the periodontal health benefits of cranberry to further bolster
existing research which supports that cranberry components offer
promising applications for the development of novel adjunctive
treatment for periodontal disease – the single largest
cause of tooth loss in older Americans.
- Heart health and cancer inhibition - On-going
research including mechanisms of action of cranberry phytochemicals
on several cancers and cardiovascular disease, cranberry polyphenols
as effective anti-inflammatory compounds, the effects of cranberry
consumption on cholesterol levels and the cranberry juice effect
on reducing the symptoms of acute UTI as well as their prevention.
Martin Starr, PhD, Science Advisor to the Cranberry Institute,
commented, “We convened the Third Biennial Health Research
Conference so that scientists exploring cranberry’s potential
effect in many parts of the body could share their latest work,
from clinical studies to preliminary exploratory research. These
findings continue to grow more rich and dense as researchers go
both deeper and broader in examining cranberry’s amazing
structural complexity and its unique bacterial anti-adhesion and
antioxidant benefits,” he concluded.
About the Cranberry Institute
The Cranberry Institute is a non-profit organization founded in
1951 to promote education and research. Dedicated to supporting
research and increasing awareness about the health benefits of
the cranberry, it also supports and funds topics related to environmental
stewardship. The Cranberry Institute's website is www.cranberryinstitute.org.
For further information, please contact Linn
Parrish at 781-259-1810
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