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Cranberry consumption improves survival in the spontaneously hypertensive stroke‐prone rat
Author(s) -
Scanlan Adam P,
Shaughnessy Kevin S,
GottschallPass Kathy T,
Sweeney Marva I
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.460.3
Subject(s) - medicine , vasoconstriction , oxidative stress , blood pressure , stroke (engine) , endocrinology , excretion , mechanical engineering , engineering
Hypertension is a risk factor for stroke, a leading cause of death in North America. A reduction in systolic blood pressure of only 3 mm Hg reduces the incidence of cerebrovascular disease. Vascular integrity is altered in hypertension, characterized by arterial inflammation, oxidative stress and vasoconstriction. American cranberries ( Vaccinium macrocarpon) contain polyphenols which have been shown to act as antioxidants and anti‐inflammatory agents in biological systems. We hypothesized that feeding cranberry‐enriched diets (CBD) to spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rats (SHRSP) would reduce hypertension and incidence of stroke mortalities. Eight‐week‐old SHRSP and Wistar rats (n=10) were fed one of two diets: 3% cranberry + 4% NaCl or 4% NaCl, mixed into commercial chow. SHRSP eating CBD experienced a 10–20 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure by week 6. This hypotensive effect may be due to a reduction in vasoconstriction as SHRSP eating CBD had significantly higher nitrite levels in their urine after 6 wks (p=0.034), suggestive of higher levels of NO release. SHRSP fed control diet had signs of oxidative stress, with elevated F 2 isoprostane excretion in the urine. Feeding cranberry reduced urinary isoprostane excretion in SHRSP rats (p=0.01). Overall, SHRSP on CBD lived 40% longer than control rats (51.3 ± 3.8 days vs 70.5 ± 9.9 days, p= 0.039). These data suggest that cranberry supplementation reduces oxidative stress and vasoconstriction, resulting in lower blood pressure and increased longevity. Funded by NSERC & Atlantic Innovation Fund.