Posted on 05/01/2024 9:17:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Cranberry extracts appear to improve intestinal microbiota and help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A recent study reported beneficial effects after only four days of use.
The research team showed that the polyphenols and oligosaccharides present in a cranberry extract boost the genus Bifidobacterium, associated with a reduced risk of diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases.
"Normally, these bacteria are stimulated by dietary fiber consumption. We observed the same effect with cranberry extract with a dose almost 20 times lower," says Jacob Lessard-Lord.
Cranberry extracts also stimulate the Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium, which plays an important role in the intestinal mucosa, helping to reduce inflammation and strengthen the intestinal barrier.
This is of particular interest when it comes to countering the harmful effects of a Western diet.
"Alteration of the intestinal barrier allows the passage of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) derived from the intestinal microbiota, known as metabolic endotoxemia, and is a crucial factor in the onset and progression of inflammation and metabolic diseases," explains Desjardins.
"The constant inflammation that results from the presence of LPS in the body can lead to several chronic diseases, including diabetes, and cardiovascular disease," he explains.
When included into a balanced diet, cranberry extracts could modify the inflammatory pathway and improve the prognosis of a chronic disease. By stimulating Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium and Bifidobacterium, the microbiota regenerates and recreates an anti-inflammatory environment. This results in strengthening the connections between the cells of the intestinal barrier, thereby fortifying it.
In the study, approximately forty participants recruited at INAF were instructed to consume a cranberry supplement in capsule form twice daily, morning and evening, which is equivalent to ingesting 60 grams of fresh cranberries.
At the beginning of the experiment and after four days, samples of plasma, urine, and stool were collected from participants.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“109 mg of (poly)phenols and 125 mg of oligosaccharides per day to the participants. Flavan-3-ols (82.3 mg/day) accounted for 75% of the total (poly)phenolic content. However, the extract also contained additional (poly)phenols such as flavonols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins.”
Other cranberry extracts could perform similarly, if they appear to have similar content.
Bkmk
I’ll have to steal the old commercial song from
Blue Bonnet Margarine. They’re not using it anyway:
“Everything’s Better, with Cranberry In It!”
Pretty soon, if we take all the stuff that’s good for us, we won’t have room for food with calories and protein in it....
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