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TO FOOD, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
New Study Finds Strawberries May Help Lower Cholesterol
WATSONVILLE, Calif., April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
According to new published research in the Journal of Nutrition,
consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods such as strawberries may play an
important role in lowering cholesterol and other risk factors for
cardiovascular disease.
To evaluate the effects of strawberries on cardiovascular risk
factors, researchers at Oklahoma State University conducted a 12-week
study with a group of 60 overweight adults. Participants were randomly
selected to consume a high (equivalent to 500 g fresh strawberries) or
low (equivalent to 250 g fresh strawberries) daily dose of a beverage
made with freeze-dried strawberries, or a control beverage.
The study revealed the high dose strawberry supplements were effective
in significantly reducing total and LDL cholesterol levels.
Additionally, both the low and high dose supplements were equally
effective in decreasing lipid peroxidation compared with the control
groups.
"With more than two-thirds of U.S. adults being overweight or obese,
and having metabolic abnormalities associated with increased
cardiovascular risk factors, we are pleased to see the positive
effects that strawberries can have on lowering serum cholesterol,"
said lead researcher Arpita Basu, Ph.D., RD, associate professor of
nutritional sciences, College of Human Sciences at Oklahoma State
University.
As the first 12-week study to report the total and LDL
cholesterol-lowering effects of a higher amount of strawberries in
obese adults, the researchers suggest that a strawberry-supplemented
diet may be of clinical significance as a nutritional strategy to help
reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
Link to published study:
Basu A, Betts NM, Nguyen A, Newman ED, Fu D, Lyons TJ. Freeze-dried
strawberries lower serum cholesterol and lipid peroxidation in adults
with abdominal adiposity and elevated serum lipids. J Nutr.
More Information about California Strawberries:
-- Consumer website - www.californiastrawberries.com
-- Nutrition Newsletter for Health Professionals -
www.strawberrynutritionnews.com
-- California Strawberries on Facebook -
www.facebook.com/castrawberries
-- Twitter - www.twitter.com/castrawberries
About the California Strawberry Commission The California Strawberry
Commission, www.californiastrawberries.com, is a state government
agency representing all of California's strawberry farmers, shippers
and processors. With an emphasis on food safety education, commission
activities focus on production and nutrition research, trade
relations, public policy, marketing and communications. California
produces more than 85 percent of all strawberries grown in the United
States.
SOURCE California Strawberry Commission
-0- 04/02/2014
/CONTACT: Jodi Reinman, California Strawberry Commission, jreinman@calstrawberry.org, 831-763-5421
/Web Site: http://www.californiastrawberries.com/
CO: California Strawberry Commission
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