The influence of tart cherry (Prunus cerasus, cv Montmorency) concentrate supplementation for 3 months on cardiometabolic risk factors in middle-aged adults: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tart Montmorency cherries (MC) have been shown to be rich in anthocyanins and other phytochemicals known to have anti-inflammatory properties and influence pathways that might improve cardiometabolic health. However, there is limited evidence for the longer-term use of tart cherries on these indices. The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of MC concentrate on cardiometabolic health indices following a 3-month supplementation period.Methods: Fifty middle-aged adults (34 males and 16 females; mean ± SD age: 48 ± 6 years and BMI: 27.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2) completed a randomised, placebo-controlled parallel study in which they either received MC or an isocaloric placebo. Participants drank 30 ml of their allocated treatment twice per day for 3 months. Vascular function (blood pressure [BP], heart rate [HR], pulse wave velocity and analysis [PWV/A] and flow mediated dilation [FMD]) as well as indices of meta-bolic health (insulin, glucose, lipid profiles and high sensitivity C reactive protein) were measured following an overnight fast before and after the 3 months.Results: No effect of the intervention between groups was observed for vascular function or metabolic health variables following the intervention (P> 0.05). However, MC concentrate was shown to be safe and well tolerated and importantly did not have any deleterious effects on these outcomes. In conclusion MC has no in-fluence on cardiometabolic indices in middle-aged adults.