A daily dose of cranberry powder restored blood vessel health to animals with atherosclerosis, said researchers yesterday.
The findings suggest that the fruit may have additional benefits to heart health than those previously demonstrated in human trials.
Small studies have found higher levels of HDL cholesterol after people drank cranberry juice. The new study however examines blood vessel health in pigs that are bred to develop high blood cholesterol and then atherosclerosis, the thickening and hardening of arteries, by eight months of age.
This chain of events is similar to disease progression in humans. The study results suggest that the fruit not only reduces the risk of developing heart disease by improving cholesterol levels but may also help people who already have atherosclerosis and therefore at greater risk of stroke and heart attack.
