Brachial artery diameter and velocity of blood flow after hyperemia during the six hours following consumption of cranberry juice

Abstract

The effects of cranberry juice consumption on brachial artery diameter and velocity of blood flow were investigated. Subjects were aged 40-69 years with documented cardiovascular disease. Subjects refrained from alcohol, fruit juices, or calcium-channel blockers for 24 hours, and supplements 5 days prior to testing. They fasted 9 hours prior to the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 6) or a control group (n = 7). Baseline measurements were collected, after which participants drank 3 mUkg of pure cranbeny juice, or 3 mUkg of an isocaloric sugar water mixture (control), and were given half of a plain bagel to eat. Ultrasound and Doppler flow methods were used to measure brachial artery diameter usi~:g a longitudinal (M-mode) and cross-sectional technique at pre-cuff and 2 minutes after cuff removal. Velocity of blood flow was measured at pre-cuff, maximum flow, and 1 and 2 minutes after cuff removal. Arterial blood pressure was measured with a manual sphygmomanometer. Measurements were repeated at Hours 2,4, and 6. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the cross-sectional and M-mode method. There were no significant differences in diameter values, velocity of blood flow values, mean arterial pressure, and resistance between the control and CBJ groups at any time point. In general, these measurements significantly decreased (p < 0.05) over time.