title: Effects of Montmorency tart cherry (Prunus Cerasus L.) consumption on vascular function in men with early hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tart cherries contain numerous polyphenolic compounds that could potentially improve endothelial function and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to examine the acute effects of Montmorency tart cherry (MC) juice on vascular function in subjects with early hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A placebo-controlled, blinded, crossover, randomized Latin square design study with a washout period of ≥14 d was conducted. Fifteen men with early hypertension [systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥130 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mm Hg, or both] received either a 60-mL dose of MC concentrate or placebo. Microvascular reactivity (laser Doppler imaging with iontophoresis), arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity and analysis), blood pressure, and phenolic acid absorption were assessed at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 h postconsumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MC consumption significantly lowered SBP (P < 0.05) over a period of 3 h, with peak reductions of mean ± SEM 7 ± 3 mm Hg 2 h after MC consumption relative to the placebo. Improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors were closely linked to increases in circulating protocatechuic and vanillic acid at 1-2 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MC intake acutely reduces SBP in men with early hypertension. These benefits may be mechanistically linked to the actions of circulating phenolic acids. This study provides information on a new application of MCs in health maintenance, particularly in positively modulating SBP. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02234648.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1572-9211
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Trevor W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Costas L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Constantinou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Meghan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clifford
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; and Water Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, Northwest University, Potchefstroom, South Africa glyn.howatson@northumbria.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8494-2043
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Howatson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000097:blood; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010919:Placebos; D000068220:Prunus avium; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D010919:Placebos; C017616:phenolic acid
keywords: blood pressure; cardiovascular risk factors; hypertension; phenolic acids; tart cherries