Cholesterol

ResultsThe researchers noted that: following the intervention, aerobic fitness improved by 10 percent in MS subjects (Pre: 2.2 ± 0.4 L/min; Post: 2.5 ± 0.4) and 14 percent in controls (Pre: 2.4 ± 1.0 L/min; Post: 2.8 ± 1.0), respectively; baseline assessment of CAD risk factors showed that the MS subjects had significantly higher circulating levels of triglyceride (MS: 5.0 ± 2.2 mmol/L; Control: 1.2 ± 0.05) and total glucose (MS: 7.1 ± 1.1 mmol/L; Control: 6.6 ± 0.5) compared to the control group; after completion of 24 total cycling sessions, MS subjects showed significant reductions in percent body fat, triglycerides and resting diastolic blood pressure.

Specifically, there was a 6 percent decrease in percent body fat (pre: 29.6 ± 5.8 percent; post: 27.9 ± 7.6), a 23 percent decrease in triglycerides (pre: 7.75 ± 2.2 mmol/L; post: 5.80 ± 1.8) while diastolic blood pressure dropped 5 mmHg (pre: 80.7 ± 11.1 mmHg; post: 75.0 ± 8.1).

Relative improvements in the number of risk factors were observed in 7 of 11 MS participants; and the control subjects showed significant decrease in fasting glucose (pre: 6.6 ± 0.5 mmol/L; post: 5.9 ± 0.4).

Additionally, four of 11 subjects reduced their relative CAD risk by at least one risk factor.

Discussion/C...

In a study involving rats, the researchers report that animals that received powdered tart cherries in their diet had lower total All of the rats had a predisposition toward high All the measures on which the two groups of animals differed are linked to metabolic syndrome, a collection of risk factors linked to high rates of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Tens of millions of Americans have metabolic syndrome; most don’t know it.The researchers say the correlation between cherry intake and significant changes in metabolic measurements suggest a positive effect from the high concentrations of antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins that are found in tart cherries.

The new results were given today in an oral presentation at the Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, D.C.It’s not yet known if cherry-...