Tart Cherry Supplementation and Women's Bone Health Study

Tart cherries are an excellent course of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins, and in pre-clinical studies have been shown to prevent age-related bone loss. Based on these findings, this pilot study was designed to investigate the effects of three months of tart cherry juice supplementation on improving markers of oxidative stress and bone metabolism in older women. Women (n=30), aged 65-80 yrs, will be recruited for the study and randomly assigned to one of two doses of tart cherry juice (8 or 16 fl oz) per day prepared from a Montmorency cherry concentrate (King Orchards, Central Lake, MI). Study participants will complete two study visits to the Nutritional Sciences Clinical Research Center. At the first visit, informed consent will be obtained and relevant medical history and anthropometric measures will be taken by the research team. A blood draw will be performed to assess baseline, biochemical markers of bone metabolism and inflammation as well as indicators of oxidative status. A physical activity and food frequency questionnaire will be completed by each study participant. Whole body, hip and spine bone density (DXA) scan will be performed by certified bone densitometrist. A 3-month final visit will be scheduled for all study participants in which most of the procedures described at baseline (except DXA) will be repeated. Change in primary and secondary outcome measures (i.e., bone, inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers) will be assessed.