Elsevier

The Journal of Nutrition

Volume 140, Issue 9, September 2010, Pages 1582-1587
The Journal of Nutrition

Blueberries Decrease Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Obese Men and Women with Metabolic Syndrome, ,

https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.110.124701Get rights and content
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Abstract

Among all fruits, berries have shown substantial cardio-protective benefits due to their high polyphenol content. However, investigation of their efficacy in improving features of metabolic syndrome and related cardiovascular risk factors in obesity is limited. We examined the effects of blueberry supplementation on features of metabolic syndrome, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation in obese men and women. Forty-eight participants with metabolic syndrome [4 males and 44 females; BMI: 37.8 ± 2.3 kg/m2; age: 50.0 ± 3.0 y (mean ± SE)] consumed freeze-dried blueberry beverage (50 g freeze-dried blueberries, #126 350 g fresh blueberries) or equivalent amounts of fluids (controls, 960 mL water) daily for 8 wk in a randomized controlled trial. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, assessment of dietary intakes, and fasting blood draws were conducted at screening and at wk 4 and 8 of the study. The decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were greater in the blueberry-supplemented group (− 6 and − 4%, respectively) than in controls (− 1.5 and − 1.2%) (P lt 0.05), whereas the serum glucose concentration and lipid profiles were not affected. The decreases in plasma oxidized LDL and serum malondialdehyde and hydroxynonenal concentrations were greater in the blueberry group (− 28 and − 17%, respectively) than in the control group (− 9 and − 9%) (P lt 0.01). Our study shows blueberries may improve selected features of metabolic syndrome and related cardiovascular risk factors at dietary achievable doses.

Abbreviations used:

CRP
C-reactive protein
CVD
cardiovascular disease
HbA1C
hemoglobin A1C
HNE
hydroxynonenal
IL-6
interleukin-6
MDA
malondialdehyde
MPO
myeloperoxidase
ox-LDL
oxidized LDL
RD
registered dietitian
sICAM-1
soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1
sVCAM-1
soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1

Cited by (0)

1

Supported by the US Highbush Blueberry Council and by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center General Clinical Research Center grant M01-RR14467, National Center for Research Resources, NIH.

2

Author disclosures: A. Basu, M. Du, M. J. Leyva, K. Sanchez, N. M. Betts, M. Wu, C. E. Aston, and T. J. Lyons, no conflicts of interest.

3

Supplemental Tables 1 and 2 are available with the online posting of this paper at jn.nutrition.org.