Background: Blueberries contain high levels of polyphenolic compounds with high in vitro antioxidant capacities. Their consumption has been associated with improved vascular and metabolic health.
Purpose: The objective was to examine the effects of blueberry supplement consumption on metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters and potential underlying mechanisms of action.
Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled intervention trial was conducted in adults at risk of developing MetS. Participants consumed 50 g daily of either a freeze-dried highbush blueberry powder (BBP) or a placebo powder for 8 weeks (n = 49). MetS phenotypes were assessed at weeks 0, 4 and 8. Fasting blood gene expression profiles and plasma metabolomic profiles were examined at baseline and week 8 to assess metabolic changes occurring in response to the BBP. A per-protocol analysis was used.
Results: A significant treatment effect was observed for plasma triglyceride levels that was no longer significant after further adjustments for age, sex, BMI and baseline values. In addition, the treatment*time interactions were non-significant therefore suggesting that compared with the placebo, BBP had no statistically significant effect on body weight, blood pressure, fasting plasma lipid, insulin and glucose levels, insulin resistance (or sensitivity) or glycated hemoglobin concentrations. There were significant changes in the expression of 49 genes and in the abundance of 35 metabolites following BBP consumption. Differentially regulated genes were clustered in immune-related pathways.
Conclusion: An 8-week BBP intervention did not significantly improve traditional markers of cardiometabolic health in adults at risk of developing MetS. However, changes in gene expression and metabolite abundance suggest that clinically significant cardiometabolic changes could take longer than 8 weeks to present and/or could result from whole blueberry consumption or a higher dosage. BBP may also have an effect on factors such as immunity even within a shorter 8-week timeframe.
Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03266055 , 2017.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8130140 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12263-021-00688-2 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
First Report of ' Phytoplasma trifolii'-Related Strain Associated with Vaccinium Reddish Witches'-Broom Disease of European Blueberry in Lithuania.
Plant Dis
December 2024
Nature Research Centre, Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Vilnius, Lithuania;
European blueberries ( L.) can be found across the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in cool, temperate forests. These shrubs produce dark blue berries that are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and anthocyanins making them valuable for both human consumption and food supplements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnhancing the functionality of yogurt: Impact of exotic fruit pulps addition on probiotic viability and metabolites during processing and storage.
Food Res Int
November 2024
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:
The effect of exotic fruit pulp (araçá, cagaita, cambuci, grumixama, blueberry, and uvaia) on probiotic viability during storage and after gastrointestinal tract (GIT) simulation, in vitro biological activity, total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids content, and the production of metabolic products of microbial in probiotic yogurt were investigated. During the storage period (28 days), probiotic strain populations remained high (above 6 log CFU/g), while after the GTI simulation, L. acidophilus and B.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification, quantification, and antidepressant-like evaluation of anthocyanin-rich extracts from different dietary berries.
Food Sci Nutr
September 2024
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering Huaqiao University Xiamen People's Republic of China.
Berries are highly valued for their rich phenolic content, particularly anthocyanins, which are known for their antioxidative properties and potential effectiveness against depression. This study identified and quantified anthocyanin profiles in blueberry, blackberry, black mulberry, and cranberry using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), followed by in vivo evaluation of their antidepressant-like activities. Blueberry and black mulberry showed significant levels of cyanidin-3-galactoside and cyanidin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAddressing Mental Health in Rural Settings: A Narrative Review of Blueberry Supplementation as a Natural Intervention.
Nutrients
October 2024
Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Depression and anxiety are significant public health challenges, especially in rural areas where access to effective treatments is limited.
- Blueberries, rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins, show promise as a nutraceutical for improving mood and cognitive function, with studies indicating they can alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
- While the exact biochemical mechanisms behind these benefits are not fully understood, they may involve changes in the gut-brain axis, highlighting the potential of blueberries as an alternative therapy for mental health conditions.
Plant extracts and omega-3 supplementation modulate hippocampal oxylipin profile in response to LPS-induced neuroinflammation.
Inflamm Res
November 2024
Université Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, UMR 1286, Nutrineuro, Bordeaux, 33076, France.
Objective And Design: Neuroinflammation is a protective mechanism but can become harmful if chronic and/or unregulated, leading to neuronal damage and cognitive alterations. Limiting inflammation and promoting resolution could be achieved with nutrients such as grapes and blueberries polyphenols, saffron carotenoids, and omega-3, which have anti-inflammatory and proresolutive properties.
Methods: This study explored the impact of 18-day supplementation with plant extracts (grape, blueberry and saffron), omega-3 or both (mix) on neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 250 µg/kg) in 149 mice at different time points post-LPS treatment (30 min, 2 h, 6 h).
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!