In the first long-term study on the association between cranberry juice and cholesterol, researchers found that cranberry juice may help fight heart disease.

Results indicated that drinking three glasses of the juice each day significantly raises levels of "good" cholesterol and increases plasma antioxidant levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

The study involved 19 people with high cholesterol. Ten of the participants were given cranberry juice with artificial sweetener (but without high fructose corn syrup), while the others were given cranberry juice with no added sugars. The juices contained about 27 percent pure cranberry juice, which is similar to common supermarket varieties.

Subject were given one eight-ounce glass of juice a day for the first month, two glasses a day for the next month, and three glasses a day during the third month of the study. Other factors, such as exercise, diet and alcohol consumption, were not monitored.

At the end of the study, researchers measured participants’ cholesterol levels. While there were no changes in overall cholesterol levels, good cholesterol (HDL) increased by an average of 10 percent after three servings of juice per day. According to researchers, this increase corresponds to an approximate 40 percent reduction in heart disease risk.

Additionally, plasma antioxidant capacity, a measure of the total amount of antioxidants available for the body, increased by as much as 121 percent after two or three servings of juice per day. Increased antioxidant levels are associated with a decreased risk of heart disease.

Previous studies have shown that cranberries are also useful in preventing urinary tract infections and may reduce the risk of gum disease, stomach ulcers and cancer.

Cranberries contain high levels of polyphenols, a potent antioxidant, which may explain the fruit’s effect on cholesterol levels, according to researchers. In order to get the most health benefit, researchers recommend drinking a low-sugar cranberry juice that contains an artificial sweetener.

The Cranberry Institute provided funding for this study.

225th National Meeting of he American Chemical Society New Orleans March 24, 2003

Science Blog March 24, 2003

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It has long been known that cranberries are useful for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Now researchers seek to convince us that they are also useful for preventing the number one killer in the United States--heart disease. Is this true? I sincerely doubt it and am quite certain this is a deceptive lie. Why? The study was funded by the Cranberry Institute. Always seek to find the source behind the funding of a study. If you discover the conclusion of the study benefits the funding organization, be suspicious. Also, the researchers were very careful about not giving the participants the most common type of cranberry juice consumed in this country, the one with loads of high fructose corn syrup, added to improve the tart flavor. Instead, they used juices with artificial sweeteners (most likely Nutrasweet) to enhance the flavor of the juice. Nutrasweet is full of its own problems and complications. If they had used the typical cranberry juice, there is no way the observed benefits would have occurred as the secondary insulin elevations would have wiped out the improved HDL levels. So, even with outrageously healthy foods, you need to be concerned about inappropriate hype. Cranberries are clearly highly beneficial fruits and can provide major health benefits. The ideal way to consume them is in their raw state, but add them to your vegetable juice. The combination is delightful. However, large amounts of cranberries are not very good for you if you are overweight, have high blood pressure or diabetes, so be careful. They also should be used in smaller concentrations for protein Metabolic Types. Carb/vegetarian types can tolerate far larger quantities of them. Related Articles: Does Cranberry Juice Have Antibacterial Acitivty? Cranberry Juice for Urinary Tract Infections Cranberry Compounds Fight Urinary Tract Infection Cranberries are Not Just Good for the Holidays