Montmorency cherry supplementation attenuates vascular dysfunction induced by prolonged forearm occlusion in overweight, middle-aged men

Flavonoid supplementation improves brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), but it is not known whether flavonoids protect against vascular dysfunction induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and associated respiratory burst. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, we investigated whether 4-weeks supplementation with freeze-dried Montmorency cherry (MC) attenuated suppression of FMD after IR induced by prolonged forearm occlusion. Twelve physically inactive middle-aged men (52.8+/-5.8y, BMI: 28.1+/-5.3kg.m-2) consumed MC (235mg.d-1 anthocyanins) or placebo capsules for 4-weeks, with supplementation blocks separated by 4-weeks washout. Pre and post each supplementation block, FMD responses and plasma nitrate and nitrite ([NO2−]) concentrations were measured at baseline and 15, 30, and 45min after prolonged (20-min) forearm occlusion. FMD response was significantly depressed by the prolonged occlusion (p<0.001). After 45min reperfusion, FMD was restored to baseline lev...