Eating Sweet Bing Cherries for Four Weeks Significantly Decreases Inflammatory Markers

Healthy men and women who consume sweet Bing cherries have significant reductions in serum CRP, plasma NO (nitric oxide) and RANTES (a cytokine that is a member of the IL-8 superfamily), report researchers at the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center, University of California, Davis. The study of 18 men and women was conducted in the months June through August during the fresh cherry season in California. The fruits were sorted by UC Davis to exclude cracked, decayed and unripe fruits and were stored at 0? without freezing.

The total phenolic content of the cherries in this study comprised 134.4 mg./100 g. cherries, with hydroxycinnamates comprising the largest class of phenolics. The other classes of phenolics present (in descending order) included anthocyanins, procyanidins (mainly catechin and epicatechin), and flavanols. Polyphenols are natural chemicals found in fruit that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties.

Of note, six of the subjects did not show a decline in serum CRP or plasma NO, pointing to individual differences in the response of inflammatory markers to cherry consumption. Other markers of inflammation, such as plasma IL-6, IL-6sR, ICAM-1 and TIMP-2 did not change during the study. Likewise, blood lipids showed no change among the subjects in this study.

Since inflammation may affect the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the researchers conclude that this reduction in plasma CRP by cherries may benefit those at risk for CVD. Also, since increased plasma NO has been associated with tissue injury in several rheumatic diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), they conclude that cherries may benefit the immune system for those at risk for rheumatic disease.

Kelley DS, R Rasooly, RA Jacob, et al. Consumption of bing sweet cherries lowers circulating concentrations of inflammation markers in healthy men and women. 2006 J Nutr 136: 981-986.

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