The profound heart benefits of black raspberry

The seductive, deeply purple pigmentation of the black raspberry belies its powerful healing qualities, particularly in improving arterial stiffness in patients with metabolic syndrome. These therapeutic effects were emphasized in a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

• Fifty-one patients, all of whom had metabolic syndrome, were prospectively randomized into either the black raspberry group (n=26, 750 mg/day) or placebo group (n=25).
• Participants were observed for 12 weeks and measured for their central blood pressure, augmentation index (the measure of systemic arterial stiffness), and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) such as CD34/KDR+, CD34/CD117+, and CD34/CD133+, before and after the experiment. EPCs are cell surface markers that participate in new vessel formation and play a role in cardiovascular health.
• Results showed a significant reduction in both blood pressure and augmentation index and a notable increase in circulating EPCs.
• Combined, these effects can reduce the risk of a cardiovascular disorder.

Black raspberries are grown in Central Europe and have been studied to display greater health benefits than its cousins, the red raspberry and blackberry.

Its use in natural medicine is found in its rich supply of anthocyanins and antioxidants.

Read more articles on the excellent healing properties of the black raspberry at Antioxidants.news.

Journal Reference:

Jeong HS, Kim S, Hong SJ, Choi SC, Choi JH, Kim JH, Park C-Y, Cho JY, Lee TB, Kwon JW, et al. BLACK RASPBERRY EXTRACT INCREASED CIRCULATING ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS AND IMPROVED ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL, Journal of Medicinal Food,, 13 April 2016, 19(4), DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2015.3563