Cherries may help reduce metabolic syndrome and heart disease risk factors

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Public release date: 30-Apr-2007

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/wsw-cmh042507.php

Contact: Kittel

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Cherries may help reduce metabolic syndrome and heart disease risk factors

New study finds cherry-enriched diets lowered blood cholesterol, insulin

levels and other factors linked to this 'silent epidemic'

WASHINGTON, DC, April 30 – Increasing intake of antioxidant-rich

cherries may help lower the risk of metabolic syndrome and

cardiovascular disease, suggests a new study(1) presented today at the

Experimental Biology annual meeting.

Researchers say the animal study is encouraging and will lead to further

clinical studies in humans.

" Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of traits that can greatly increase

your risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes, so it's a

serious condition that significantly affects public health, " said study

co-author Dr. F. Bolling, a cardiac surgeon at the University of

Michigan Cardiovascular Center who also heads the U-M Cardioprotection

Research Laboratory, where the study was performed. " Lifestyle changes

have been shown to lower the odds of developing metabolic syndrome, and

there is tremendous interest in studying the impact of particular foods

that are rich in antioxidants, such as cherries. "

Metabolic syndrome (also called insulin resistance syndrome) has become

increasingly common in the United States, especially among adults in

their mid-30s.

The American Heart Association estimates that 50 million American adults

have it, and many of them don't even know it. That's why metabolic

syndrome is frequently called a " silent epidemic. "

The study, presented by University of Michigan researchers, used cherry

powder derived from tart cherries – the variety frequently sold as

dried, frozen or juice. These cherries contain a compound known as

anthocyanins, which provide the deep rich red color and have been shown

to have anti-inflammatory properties and other health benefits.

In the new study, whole tart cherry powder was fed to two groups of rats

as either 1 percent or 10 percent of their diet for 90 days. Other rats

received diets with no cherry powder, but with an equal amount of

carbohydrates and calories to those that received cherry powder.

Results showed that the cherry-enriched diets significantly lowered

total cholesterol levels, triglycerides, insulin and fasting glucose

levels after 90 days. All of these measures are factors that are linked

to metabolic syndrome. The study also showed the cherry-fed groups had

lower levels of a plasma marker of oxidative damage and increased blood

antioxidant capacity – not surprising since cherries are one of the

richest sources of antioxidants.

Additionally, the cherry-enriched diets reduced " fatty liver " or the

accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver.

The amount of cherries used in the study is estimated to be about 1 ¼ to

1 ½ cups of whole frozen cherries or a little more than ½ cup of dried

cherries.

People with metabolic syndrome – characterized by abdominal obesity (or

belly fat), high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol levels, high blood

pressure and high blood sugar levels – are at greater risk for

cardiovascular disease, which remains the nation's top killer.

Previous studies have shown that the compounds in cherries may offer

protection against heart disease due to enhancements in blood vessel

health. Other studies suggest that cherries have anti-inflammatory

benefits that may help ease the pain of arthritis and gout.

###

The new study on cherries and metabolic syndrome has been submitted for

publication. The study was funded by the Cherry Marketing Institute,

which provided an unrestricted grant to the University of Michigan to

conduct the research and was not directly involved in the design,

conduct or analysis of the project.

(1) Cherry-enriched diets reduce metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress

in lean Dahl-SS rats. Experimental Biology 2007 225.8, Seymour EM,

Singer AAM, Bennink MR, Bolling SF. Presented in minisymposium 225,

Dietary Bioactive Compounds: Chronic Disease Risk Reduction.

Editor's Note: Co-authors Dr. F. Bolling and E. Seymour

are both available for interviews upon request. To coordinate a time to

speak with either researcher, please contact Kittel at .

Broadcast Note: Footage available on Pathfire DMG News System beginning

April 26, 2007. On the left side of the Pathfire/DMG main page, click on

AKA MEDIA INC. Locate AKAM0581/ Slug: " Cherries and Metabolic Syndrome "

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

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