Tart Cherry Juice and Markers of Inflammation, CVD, and Diabetes

In this study, the investigators recruited at-risk individuals (n=26) who were overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (> 30.0 kg/m2) and likely to exhibit one or more conditions associated with MetS. Participants were >18 years of age, not pregnant, not diabetic, with no unresolved infections or diseases (diabetes, CVD, IBD, cancer and liver disease), and nonsmokers. Histories of medication and dietary supplement use were collected and those taking anti-inflammatory or lipid-lowering medications were excluded. After enrollment, participants were randomly assigned to consume daily either 240 mL (8 ounces) of TCJ diluted (1:6 v/v) from concentrate (Coloma Frozen Foods, Coloma, MI ) or a placebo beverage for 4 weeks. The placebo was prepared by combining 48.3 g each of dextrose and fructose (Batory Foods, Des Plaines, IL), food-grade red and blue dyes (2.0 mL and 0.1 mL, respectively; McCormick & Company, Inc., Sparks, MD), lemon powder drink mix (0.8 g; True Citrus, Baltimore, MD), powdered black cherry drink mix (4.0 g; Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Northfield, IL), and filtered, bottled water (local supermarket) to produce 1 liter of placebo beverage. After a 4-week washout period, participants consumed the alternate beverage for 4 weeks in this 12-week 2x2 crossover, placebo-controlled dietary intervention. Subsequently, the investigators determined the effect of TCJ in at-risk participants on markers of uricemia (sUA), lipidemia (HDL, LDL, triglycerides, VLDL, total cholesterol), glycemia (fasting insulin and glucose, HOMA, QUICKI, McAuley indirect indices), and inflammation (hsCRP, TNF-alpha, and ESR).

Inclusion criteria

• This study was a 12-week 2 x 2 crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled dietary intervention in overweight and obese participants (BMI>25.0 kg/m2) who are more likely to exhibit >1 of the 5 risk conditions associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). BMI was the minimal criterion for recruitment.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants were >18 years of age, not pregnant, not diabetic, with no unresolved infections or diseases (diabetes, CVD, IBD, cancer and liver disease), and nonsmokers. Histories of medication and dietary supplement use were collected and those taking anti-inflammatory or lipid-lowering medications were excluded.