Red raspberries boost vascular health, study finds

11 Jul 2018 --- The consumption of red raspberries can improve the blood vessel function among healthy males, a study published in the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and supported in funds by The National Processed Raspberry Council, has found. The findings indicate the potential of raspberries for cardiovascular health.

“The research study suggests that ellagitannins, a type of natural compounds present in red raspberries, may play a role in driving the positive effects seen on blood vessel function in the study's participants," says Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, Senior Author of the study from the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine of King's College London.

The subjects – ten healthy males aged 18 to 35 – consumed drinks prepared with 200g and 400g of frozen raspberries containing 201 or 403 mg of total polyphenols, or a matched control drink in terms of macro and micronutrient content, color and taste.

Researchers investigated the vascular effects of the subjects at baseline, two hours-post consumption and 24 hours-post consumption of the raspberry and control test drinks. Participants consuming the red raspberry drink showed improved flow-mediated dilation (FMD), an established biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk. FMD increased significantly at two hours post-consumption of the raspberry drink when compared with the change in FMD due to the control drink, and this maintained at 24 hours after consumption.

At 2 hours post-consumption of both raspberry drinks, ellagic acid, found in plasma and urine correlated with FMD. At 24 hours post-consumption of the 200g raspberry drink, urolithin-A-3-glucuronide and urolithin-A-sulfate associated with FMD. No significant differences were found between FMD improvements after consumption of the 200g and 400g raspberry drinks.

“We're excited about these findings and what they may potentially add to the growing list of benefits from consuming red raspberries,” commented Tom Krugman, Executive Director of the National Processed Raspberry Council (NPRC).

Further studies will need to show whether these results translate into long-term health benefits in the general population by looking at larger study groups over longer timeframes, the researchers conclude.