Study: How heart-healthy are guava and yam bean root juices?

Yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus, L.) and guava (Psidium guajava, L.) are two of the most commonly consumed fruits in Thailand. Researchers from Mahidol University in Thailand evaluated the heart health benefits of yam bean root juice and guava fruit juice in their study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• The researchers focused on the cardiovascular effects of yam bean root juice and guava fruit juice in healthy volunteers.
• They also assessed potential involvements of the dietary nitrate on their effects.
• For the study, 30 participants were recruited and were then divided into three groups.
• Each group was assigned to drink 500 milliliters (mL) of freshly prepared yam bean root juice, guava fruit juice, or water.
• The researchers analyzed the systemic nitrate and nitrite concentrations, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum K+ concentrations, ex vivo platelet aggregation, and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) concentrations at the start of the study and at different time points after the consumption of the drinks.
• Both yam bean root juice and guava fruit juice exhibited inhibitory effects against collagen-induced platelet aggregation.
• The yam bean root juice had a significant amount of dietary nitrate which was absorbed and further transformed to nitrite in the body.
• The consumption of yam bean root juice only reduced diastolic blood pressure.
• The consumption of guava juice reduced systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate.

Overall, the ingestion of yam bean root and guava fruit juices could potentially enhance cardiovascular health through their roles in platelet inhibition and blood pressure lowering.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

To read more stories on heart-healthy fruits, visit Fruits.news today.

Journal reference

Thaptimthong T, Kasemsuk T, Sibmooh N, Unchern S. PLATELET INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF JUICES FROM PACHYRHIZUS EROSUS L. ROOT AND PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L. FRUIT: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 3 August 2016; 16(269). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1255-1