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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Western Human Nutrition Research Center » Immunity and Disease Prevention Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186673
Title: CONSUMPTION OF BING SWEET CHERRIES LOWERS CIRCULATING CONCENTRATIONS OF INFLAMMATION MARKERS IN HEALTHY MEN AND WOMEN

Author
item Kelley, Darshan
item Rasooly, Reuven
item Jacob, Robert
item KADER, ADEL - UCD, DEPT. PLANT SCIENCES
item Mackey, Bruce

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2005
Publication Date: 1/6/2006
Citation: Kelley, D.S., Rasooly, R., Jacob, R.A., Kader, A.A., Mackey, B.E. 2006. CONSUMPTION OF BING SWEET CHERRIES LOWERS CIRCULATING CONCENTRATIONS OF INFLAMMATION MARKERS IN HEALTHY MEN AND WOMEN. Journal of Nutrition. 136:981-986, 2006.

Interpretive Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of consuming sweet cherries on plasma lipids and markers of inflammation in healthy human subjects. Eighteen healthy men and women supplemented their diets with Bing sweet cherries (280 g/d) for 28 days. Twelve hr fasting blood samples were drawn before the start of cherry consumption (study days 0 and 7), 14 and 28 days after the start of cherry supplementation (study days 21 and 35), and 28 days after the discontinuation (study day 64) of cherry consumption. After consuming cherries for 28 d, plasma concentrations of CRP (C-reactive protein), RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed, and presumably secreted) and NO (nitric oxide) decreased by 25, 21 and 18% respectively (p<0.05 for both CRP and RANTES, and p=0.07 for NO). After the discontinuation of consuming cherries for 28 days, circulating concentrations of CRP and NO increased by approximately 10 % compared to the corresponding values at the end of cherries consumption, while those of RANTES continued to decrease. Plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 and its soluble receptor, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 did not change during the study. Cherry consumption did not alter the plasma concentrations for total-, HDL-, LDL-, and VLDL- cholesterol, triglycerides, subfractions of HDL, LDL, VLDL, and their particle sizes and numbers. It also did not alter circulating fasting glucose, insulin, and a number of other chemical and hematological parameters. Results of the present study suggest a selective modulatory effect of sweet cherries on CRP, NO, and RANTES. Such anti-inflammatory effects may be useful in the management and prevention of inflammatory diseases.

Technical Abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke continue to be the number one killers in United States. One of the major risk factors for CVD is increased inflammation, which contributes to the development many other inflammatory diseases as well. Epidemiological studies indicate inverse association between intake of fruits and vegetables and the risk for CVD. In addition to providing many essential nutrients, fruits contain polyphenols that exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Both sweet and tart cherries are rich in polyphenols. Purpose of this study was to examine the effect of consuming Bing sweet cherries on the circulating concentrations of markers of inflammation in human subjects. Eighteen healthy men and women consumed 300 gm/d (equivalent to 280 gm pitted cherries) of cherries for 28 days. Fasting blood samples were drawn before, during, and 28 days after the discontinuation of cherries. Consumption of cherries for 28 days reduced the circulating concentrations of 3 markers of inflammation (NO or nitric oxide; CRP or C-reactive protein; and RANTES or regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and presumably secreted) by 18-25 %. After the discontinuation of consuming cherries for 28 days, circulating concentrations of CRP and NO started to increase while those of RANTES still continued to decline. Blood concentrations of these markers are elevated in several inflammatory diseases including CVD and arthritis. Anti-inflammatory effects of cherries may be useful in the management and prevention of inflammatory diseases.