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Dried Fruit and Vascular Health: A Randomized Crossover Trial (P12-018-19).

Objectives
To evaluate the effect of consuming ¾ cup/day of mixed dried fruits versus a calorie- and carbohydrate-matched snack, on vascular health in adults at risk for cardiometabolic disease.


Methods
Men and women (n = 55) with overweight or obesity and at least one additional risk factor for cardiometabolic disease were enrolled in a 2-period single-blind randomized crossover trial. Participants received the following treatments for 4 weeks (separated by a 2-4 week washout): 1) ¾ cup mixed unsweetened dried fruits (equal parts raisins, dried plums, figs, and dates); 2) a calorie- and carbohydrate-matched processed snack. Endpoints were assessed at baseline, and the end of each treatment. Participants were advised to consume 1 serving/day of fresh fruit and incorporate study foods into their usual diets. The SphygmoCor XCEL was used to evaluate brachial and central blood pressure (BP), augmentation index, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV).


Results
At baseline, participants (47% female) had a mean BMI of 28.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2 and mean BP was 111 ± 9/77 ± 8 mmHg. More than half the subjects (56%) had a normal BP (<120/<80 mmHg) at baseline. End-of-treatment mean body weights were not different (P = 0.57). There was no difference in end-of-treatment mean values for brachial and central BP, augmentation index, augmentation pressure, or PWV (all P > 0.05). There was a significant difference in mean central pulse pressure (PP) following the dried fruit treatment versus control (1.6 ± 0.8 mmHg, P = 0.048). This was likely driven by a trend toward lower central diastolic BP (-1.2 ± 0.7 mmHg; P = 0.12) after the fruit, versus control.


Conclusions
Daily consumption of 1.5 cup-equivalents of mixed dried fruits for 4 weeks did not affect systolic BP or measures of arterial stiffness versus an isocaloric carbohydrate-matched snack in adults at increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. A significant difference in end-of-treatment mean central PP merits further study.


Funding Sources
International Nut & Dried Fruit Council; the California Dried Plum Board; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH.