Source: Thailand Medical News Jan 04, 2020 4 years, 9 months, 3 days, 3 hours, 10 minutes ago
A new study has found that long-term consumption of
lingonberry juice lowers
high blood pressure and improves the function of blood vessels.
Typically at some point in their lives, many people develop elevated
blood pressure, even
hypertension and functional disturbances in blood vessels related to low-grade inflammation. In addition to drug therapies, nutrition has a key role in the management of these disorders.
Past epidemiological studies have shown that polyphenol-rich food reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Lingonberry, bilberry, cranberry and blackcurrant are excellent sources of polyphenols.
Anne Kivimäki, MSc (Food Science) in her doctoral thesis, investigated the cardiovascular effects of cold-pressed
lingonberry juice, cranberry juice and blackcurrant juice as drinking fluid for 8-10 weeks on genetically hypertensive rats (SHR).
Lingonberry juice even diluted, significantly lowered
high blood pressure while juice that contained more polyphenols improved impaired blood vessel function to the level of healthy vessels. The juice did not prevent the age-related elevation of
blood pressure typical to the hypertensive animal strain.
The study showed that
Lingonberry juice prevented the expression of genes associated with low-grade inflammation in the aorta. The effect of other berry juices was less marked. Underlying the effect is probably the reduction of low-grade inflammation as well as mechanisms related to the renin-angiotensin system, a central regulator of
blood pressure, and the availability of nitric oxide, a local endothelial vasodilating factor.
Kivimäki told
Thailand Medical News, "These experimental findings need evidence from comparative clinical studies on healthy individuals with slightly elevated
blood pressure who, at this point, have been given nutritional and lifestyle guidance instead of drug therapy.
Lingonberry juice is no substitute for medication, but it is a good dietary supplement."
Anne Kivimäki's doctoral thesis, titled "
Lingonberry juice,
blood pressure, vascular function and inflammatory markers in experimental
hypertension," was examined and accepted for Ph.D. degree at the University of Helsinki on 13 December 2019. The thesis can be accessed through the E-thesis service.
Reference : Lingonberry juice, blood pressure, vascular function and inflammatory markers in experimental hypertension. urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-51-5631-0
PS: For those on you in T
hailand wondering where to get
Lingonberry juice, you can find in at all
Ikea outlets especially at their restaurants and food corners.