Potential heart health role for cranberry juice

New data presented at Experimental Biology suggest that a double serving of light cranberry juice cocktail can potentially increase artery dilation and blood flow immediately after consumption. Researchers from Tufts University and Boston University presented data at the multi-disciplinary conference held in San Diego, USA, showing that the natural flavonoids in the juice are absorbed and were responsible for this benefit.

According to US agricultural cooperative Ocean Spray, 60 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease and this preliminary study suggests low-calorie cranberry juice may present an effective dietary tool for supporting blood vessel function.

In the preliminary study, researchers administered a double serving of light cranberry juice to patients with coronary artery disease and, over the next several hours, found the juice helped reverse an impairment in blood vessels by increasing their ability to dilate and carry more blood. This impairment in patients with coronary artery disease and those at risk of heart disease is called endothelial dysfunction and is characterized by a constriction of blood vessels that results in elevated blood pressure, which can exacerbate heart problems.