French scientists report that drinking orange juice – or a control beverage containing hesperidin, a key antioxidant flavonoid found in OJ was linked to significantly lower diastolic blood pressure and improved blood-vessel function.
The researchers studied 24 overweight, but otherwise healthy men between the ages of 51 and 63. Daily during three successive four-week periods, the men drank 17 ounces of OJ, a control drink with 300 milligrams of hesperidin, and lastly a control drink with placebo capsules. Diastolic blood pressure was notably lower for the men after they had drank both the OJ and the drink containing hespiridin, but not after the placebo drink. For men in their 50s or 60s with blood pressure of 150/90 mm Hg, researchers said, a decrease of just three or four points in diastolic pressure could translate into a 20% decrease in coronary artery disease….. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter April 29, 2013
