What Is Tart Cherry? Other Names: Albaluk, Cerasus vulgaris, Prunus cerasus

What is Tart Cherry?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Tart cherry, specifically the Montmorency variety (Prunus cerasus), is a fruit known for its rich content of anthocyanins and other phytochemicals. These compounds are believed to offer various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Tart cherries are commonly consumed in the form of juice, concentrate, or powdered capsules. Other names include: Albaluk, Alubalu, Cerasus vulgaris, Cerezo Acido, Cerise, Cerise à Tarte, Cerise Acide, Cerise Acide Rouge, Cerise Aigre, Cerise de Montmorency, Cerise Rouge, Cerisier Acide, Cerisier Aigre, Dwarf Cherry, English Morello, Gilas, Ginjeira, Griotte de Champagne, Griottier, Griottier Acide, Guinda, Guinda Acida, Guindo, Montmorency Cherry, Morello Cherry, Olchi, Pie Cherry, Prunus cerasus, Prunus vulgaris, Red Cherry, Red Sour Cherry, Richmond, Sauerkirsche, Sauerkirschenbaum, Sour Cherry.

Health Benefits of Tart Cherry

Cardiometabolic Health

Tart cherry concentrate has been studied for its potential effects on cardiometabolic health. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving middle-aged adults found that while tart cherry concentrate was safe and well-tolerated, it did not significantly influence vascular function or metabolic health indices over a three-month period1. Another study indicated that tart cherry juice could lower systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in older adults, suggesting potential cardiovascular benefits3.

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Tart cherries are high in anthocyanins, which are believed to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. A study showed that acute ingestion of tart cherry could transiently decrease serum uric acid levels, although it had no significant impact on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) or oxidative capacity2. Another study found that tart cherry juice reduced markers of inflammation in overweight and obese subjects, specifically lowering the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and certain cytokines4.

Sleep Quality

Tart cherries contain melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Research has shown that consuming tart cherry juice concentrate can significantly elevate melatonin levels and improve sleep quality in healthy adults. Participants reported increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency after consuming the juice6.

Exercise Performance and Recovery

The effects of tart cherry juice on exercise performance and recovery have also been explored. One study found no significant differences in cycling performance, substrate oxidation, or recovery when comparing tart cherry juice to a high-glycemic index sports drink7. Similarly, another study reported that tart cherry juice did not hasten recovery in professional soccer players after a match10.

Pain Management

Tart cherry has shown promise in managing pain, particularly in conditions like osteoarthritis and aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia (AIA) in breast cancer patients. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that tart cherry concentrate significantly reduced pain in non-metastatic hormone-positive breast cancer patients suffering from AIA8 9.

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Adverse Effects of Tart Cherry

Hyperglycemia: One study reported a case of hyperglycemia potentially related to tart cherry concentrate consumption in people with gout1.

Increased Glucose Levels: In older adults, tart cherry juice consumption was associated with higher levels of glucose2.

Increased Triglycerides and BMI: The same study also found that tart cherry juice led to higher triglycerides and BMI compared to a control group2.

Diarrhea: In a study involving breast cancer patients, two participants did not complete the study due to diarrhea, which was attributed to tart cherry concentrate10.

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How has Tart Cherry Improved Patient Outcomes?

Pain and Joint Function

Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Patients: Tart cherry significantly reduced pain associated with aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia in non-metastatic hormone-positive breast cancer patients. Patients consuming tart cherry concentrate experienced a 34.7% mean decrease in pain compared to 1.4% in the placebo group1 7.

Knee Osteoarthritis: Tart cherry juice improved pain, mobility, and quality of life in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Significant improvements were noted in pain and knee extension/flexion at the midpoint of the study, although these benefits were not sustained at the final time point2. Another study found that tart cherry juice reduced pain and lowered high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, which is associated with inflammation4.

Cardiovascular Health

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Tart cherry juice consumption led to significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in older adults. Participants in the tart cherry group had lower levels of LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol compared to the control group3. Additionally, tart cherry juice acutely reduced systolic blood pressure in men with early hypertension8.

Metabolic Syndrome: In adults with metabolic syndrome, tart cherry juice consumption resulted in lower levels of oxidized LDL and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, which are markers of cardiovascular risk. However, no significant changes were observed in arterial stiffness or other blood biomarkers6.

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Tart Cherry Mechanisms of Action

Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms

Reduction of Pro-Inflammatory Markers: Tart cherry reduces inflammation by decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in adipose tissue and cultured adipocytes1. This is partly achieved through the downregulation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway1.

Impact on Inflammatory Mediators: In a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model, tart cherry extract significantly reduced levels of IL-6 and leptin, which are associated with inflammation2.

Antioxidant Mechanisms

Enhancement of Antioxidant Capacity: Tart cherry increases antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, which helps in reducing oxidative stress2. It also enhances the DNA repair activity of 8-oxoguanine glycosylase and lowers C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, indicating reduced oxidative stress and inflammation9.

Reduction of Uric Acid: Tart cherry ingestion can transiently decrease serum uric acid levels, which is beneficial for reducing oxidative stress7.

Vasomodulatory Mechanisms

Improvement in Vascular Function: Tart cherry consumption has been shown to acutely reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) in men with early hypertension, likely due to the actions of circulating phenolic acids such as protocatechuic and vanillic acid4 8.

Influence on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: Phenolic acids from tart cherry can influence the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, which is important for maintaining vascular health8.

Pain and Inflammation Reduction

Musculoskeletal Pain: Tart cherry has been effective in reducing musculoskeletal pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis and aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia in breast cancer patients3 6.

Exercise-Induced Pain and Inflammation: While one study found no significant differences in pain, inflammation, or strength in resistance-trained males, it suggests the need for further research into the protective effects of tart cherry on muscle damage5.

Cognitive and Mood Effects

Cognitive Function and Mood: Chronic supplementation of tart cherry has been shown to improve sustained attention, feelings of alertness, and reduce mental fatigue, potentially due to changes in amino acid metabolism10.

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Common Complaints Associated with Tart Cherry Use

Safety and Tolerability

The study on the influence of tart cherry concentrate supplementation over 3 months in middle-aged adults found that the concentrate was safe and well-tolerated. There were no reported deleterious effects on vascular function or metabolic health variables, indicating that tart cherry concentrate does not commonly cause significant adverse effects1.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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