Drinking two small glasses of cherry juice daily may help reduce gut inflammation and improve the quality of life for people with ulcerative colitis, according to a new study. Researchers found that Montmorency tart cherry juice reduced key inflammation markers by 40% in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
The study, published in Life, was the largest of its kind and was conducted by scientists from the University of Hertfordshire and the University of Central Lancashire. Participants who consumed the cherry juice supplement also reported a 9% improvement in their overall health-related quality of life.
A Potential Complement to Standard Treatment
Ulcerative colitis affects nearly 300,000 people in the UK, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue, and recurrent diarrhea.
While medications such as anti-inflammatories, steroids, and immunosuppressants are the standard treatments, they do not work for everyone and often come with significant side effects. Some patients eventually require advanced therapies, such as biologic infusions or even surgery.
Professor Lindsay Bottoms, co-author of the study, highlighted the potential of cherry juice as a complementary therapy. “While cherry juice cannot replace medicine, our findings suggest it could be used alongside traditional treatments to improve quality of life and possibly delay more intensive medical interventions,” she said.
Figures from Crohn’s and Colitis UK indicate that around 7 in 100 people with ulcerative colitis require major surgery within the first five years of diagnosis. The cost of treating the condition in the UK exceeds £720 million per year, making alternative approaches to symptom management a priority for both patients and healthcare providers.
The Power of Montmorency Tart Cherries
Montmorency tart cherries are rich in anthocyanins, natural compounds responsible for their deep red color and potential health benefits. These compounds are also found in blackberries, blood oranges, and eggplants.
Previous research has shown that 30ml of Montmorency tart cherry concentrate contains 9.117 mg/ml of anthocyanins, equivalent to consuming about 100 cherries.
Given their high anthocyanin content, researchers wanted to see if tart cherries could offer clinical benefits to people with ulcerative colitis.
How the Study Was Conducted
The study involved 35 participants aged 18 to 65 who had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis for at least six months and were on stable medication for at least three months.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either:
- A 130ml Montmorency tart cherry drink (made from 100ml water and 30ml concentrated juice), or
- A placebo drink that looked and tasted similar.
They consumed their assigned drink twice daily for six weeks. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was receiving the real supplement, ensuring unbiased results.
Patients with other medical conditions, such as diabetes, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, or hepatitis infections, were excluded from the study to ensure that results were specific to ulcerative colitis.
Researchers assessed participants’ symptoms, quality of life, and mental health using standardized questionnaires, including the Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBDQ). Blood and stool samples were also analyzed, and participants kept a food diary to track any dietary changes that could affect the results.
Key Findings: Improved Quality of Life and Reduced Inflammation
At the end of the study, researchers found that:
- Participants who drank cherry juice experienced a 9% improvement in their overall health-related quality of life.
- A key gut inflammation marker, fecal calprotectin, was reduced by 40%, suggesting that cherry juice had a significant effect on intestinal inflammation.
- Blood samples did not show major changes, but the reduction in gut inflammation was considered a promising finding.
Professor Bottoms expressed enthusiasm about the results. “We are really excited that cherry juice supplementation improved health-related quality of life and significantly reduced gut inflammation, suggesting it may help with ulcerative colitis symptoms,” she said.
Next Steps: Investigating the Impact on Crohn’s Disease
First author Dr. Jonathan Sinclair emphasized the significance of these findings. “Ulcerative colitis has a profound impact on mental health, body image, and quality of life,” he noted. “Our study highlights the potential benefits of Montmorency tart cherry juice as a complementary treatment alongside traditional medications.”
The next phase of research will explore whether cherry juice has similar benefits for people with Crohn’s disease, another form of inflammatory bowel disease.
Dr. Yarunnessa Khan, Senior Research Strategy Lead at Crohn’s & Colitis UK, welcomed the study’s findings. “Inflammatory bowel disease can be highly unpredictable, making daily life difficult for patients. Research that empowers people to live better lives is a real positive, and we are excited to see the next phase of this study.”
Conclusion
While further research is needed, this study suggests that Montmorency tart cherry juice may offer a natural way to reduce gut inflammation and improve well-being for ulcerative colitis patients. If confirmed in larger trials, this could provide a simple and accessible way for people to complement their medical treatment and manage their symptoms more effectively.
For more information about gut health, please see recent studies about the crucial link between diet, gut health, and the immune system and results showing that Low-gluten, high-fiber diets boost gut health and weight loss.
For more information about gut health, please see recent studies about Navigating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with diet and results showing that Mycoprotein in diet may reduce risk of bowel cancer and improve gut health.
The research findings can be found in Life.
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