Studies show that Juice Plus+® reduces oxidative stress in athletes

Three studies found that Juice Plus+ Orchard, Garden, and Vineyard Blends together were effective in reducing a marker for oxidative stress associated with aerobic exercise.

 

University of North Carolina

Bloomer et al. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2006

Study summary and findings:

 In earlier research, this group established the effects of the antioxidant vitamins C and E alone on oxidative stress resulting from aerobic exercise. Juice Plus+ contains a wide variety of natural antioxidants - including vitamins C and E. In this investigation, UNCG scientists tested whether the much lower levels of vitamins C and E in Juice Plus+ - delivered in combination with the other phytonutrients present - would have a similar effect as much higher doses of isolated vitamins C and E. This investigation was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 48 healthy, aerobically trained men and women, average age 23 years. The study subjects were divided into three groups who were assigned to take: placebo; 1000 mg vitamin C and 400 IU vitamin E; or, Juice Plus+ Orchard Blend, Garden Blend and Vineyard Blend for two weeks. While all subjects as anticipated had an increase in protein carbonyls after running thirty minutes, both the freestanding vitamin group and the Juice Plus+ group had a significantly lower increase in this marker of oxidative stress compared to the placebo group. The study's conclusion: Juice Plus+ - with its substantially lower amounts of vitamins C and E - provided similar antioxidant benefits compared to large doses of freestanding vitamins C and E.

Article Abstract: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2006; 38 (6): 1098-1105


Medical University of Graz, Austria

Lamprecht et al. Journal of Nutrition, 2007

Study summary and findings:

This study compared the effect of Juice Plus+® Orchard, Garden, and Vineyard Blends or placebo on plasma markers of oxidative stress and immune function. Also monitored were dietary intake and duty days lost due to illness. This investigation was a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 41 healthy, fit policemen in the Austrian Special Forces "Cobra" unit, average age 34 years. They were randomized to take either placebo or Juice Plus+® capsules for 28 weeks (seven months) while following their standardized diet and training regimen. Both groups consumed an average of 3.2 servings of fruit, including juice, and non-starchy vegetables daily. Assigned duty hours for both groups averaged about 1140 during the first eight weeks, increasing 29.8% to about 1480 hours during weeks 8-16, and further increasing to about 1620 hours (42.1% increase from the first eight weeks) during weeks 16-28. This increase in duty responsibilities likely resulted in additional stress for the study subjects. The Juice Plus+® group had a lower concentration of protein carbonyls compared to the placebo group, indicating lower exercise-related oxidative stress in the Juice Plus+® group. During the final twenty weeks of the investigation the Juice Plus+® group also showed a trend for fewer duty days lost due to illness. This was accompanied by a lower TNF concentration, an indication of normal, healthy immune status.This paper was published in the Journal of Nutrition, the official journal of the American Society for Nutrition.

Abstract and Complete Article: Journal of Nutrition 2007; 137 (12): 2737-2741

 

Medical University of Graz, Austria

Lamprecht et al. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2009

Study summary and findings:

This report describes how the Austria anti-terrorism police force (the Cobras) responded to reduce permanent oxidation to proteins (as reflected by the carbonyl groups on protein) with very intense exercise, but did not interfere with the transient oxidation state of albumin (the major form of circulating protein in the blood). This implies that the body is still experiencing some short-term, temporary or transient oxidation, allowing it to adapt to exercise, while providing some protection to the body from forming markers of more permanent oxidation as the result of the very intense exercise. Over the course of the study, resting values for carbonyl proteins in the Juice Plus+® exercise groups decreased and these values did not increase significantly immediately after bouts of very intense exercise. This paper was published in the January 2009 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of American College of Sports Medicine. This is the second paper from the Graz investigation. The first paper was published in December 2007 in the Journal of Nutrition, and reported findings from the Cobras in a resting state over the 28 weeks they took Juice Plus+® Orchard Blend, Garden Blend, Vineyard Blend or placebo.

Article Abstract: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2009 Jan.; 41(1):155-63.

 

< back to Research