The study, led by Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, at Tufts University (Boston, MA) and supported by the Ocean Spray Cranberries, offers a breakthrough insight into the bioavailability and metabolism of cranberry bioactives.
In test tube studies, Type-A PACs have been shown to prevent bacteria from adhering to cells, a mechanism that may underlie the association between cranberry consumption and reduced risk of certain types of infection.
This is consistent with clinical studies that have found a decrease in urinary tract infections after drinking cranberry juice. The positive results of the current discovery open up the possibility of using cranberry PACs as a biomarker of compliance for future clinical trials.
Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, professor of nutrition science and policy and director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University, said: “In the past, many observational studies have attributed various health benefits to the North American cranberry, including the prevention of urinary tract infections and stomach ulcers as well as cardiovascular health.
“This new evidence provides another step toward supporting the findings of past in vitro studies investigating the anti-adhesion mechanism of cranberry PACs, demonstrating how the high polyphenol content of cranberry juice may help maintain urinary tract health.”
Source: Ocean Spray
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