Journal article
Daily blueberry consumption for 12 weeks improves endothelial function in postmenopausal women with above-normal blood pressure through reductions in oxidative stress: a randomized controlled trial
Food & function, v 14(6), pp 2621-2641
20 Mar 2023
PMID: 36847333
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women have oxidative stress-mediated suppression of endothelial function that is exacerbated by high blood pressure. Previous research suggests blueberries may improve endothelial function through reductions in oxidative stress, while also exerting other cardiovascular benefits. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of blueberries to improve endothelial function and blood pressure in postmenopausal women with above-normal blood pressure, and to identify potential mechanisms for improvements in endothelial function. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial was performed, where postmenopausal women aged 45-65 years with elevated blood pressure or stage 1-hypertension (total
= 43, endothelial function
= 32) consumed 22 g day
of freeze-dried highbush blueberry powder or placebo powder for 12 weeks. Endothelial function was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks through ultrasound measurement of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) normalized to shear rate area under the curve (FMD/SR
) before and after intravenous infusion of a supraphysiologic dose of ascorbic acid to evaluate whether FMD improvements were mediated by reduced oxidative stress. Hemodynamics, arterial stiffness, cardiometabolic blood biomarkers, and plasma (poly)phenol metabolites were assessed at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and venous endothelial cell protein expression was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Absolute FMD/SR
was 96% higher following blueberry consumption compared to baseline (
< 0.05) but unchanged in the placebo group (
> 0.05), and changes from baseline to 12 weeks were greater in the blueberry group than placebo (+1.09 × 10
± 4.12 × 10
+3.82 × 10
± 1.59 × 10
,
< 0.03, respectively). The FMD/SR
response to ascorbic acid infusion was lower (
< 0.05) at 12 weeks compared to baseline in the blueberry group with no change in the placebo group (
> 0.05). The sum of plasma (poly)phenol metabolites increased at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the blueberry group compared to baseline, and were higher than the placebo group (all
< 0.05). Increases in several plasma flavonoid and microbial metabolites were also noted. No major differences were found for blood pressure, arterial stiffness, blood biomarkers, or endothelial cell protein expression following blueberry consumption. These findings suggest daily consumption of freeze-dried blueberry powder for 12 weeks improves endothelial function through reduced oxidative stress in postmenopausal women with above-normal blood pressure. The clinical trial registry number is NCT03370991 (https://clinicaltrials.gov).
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Daily blueberry consumption for 12 weeks improves endothelial function in postmenopausal women with above-normal blood pressure through reductions in oxidative stress: a randomized controlled trial
- Creators
- Emily K Woolf - Colorado State UniversityJanée D Terwoord - Colorado State UniversityNicole S Litwin - Colorado State UniversityAllegra R Vazquez - Colorado State UniversitySylvia Y Lee - Colorado State UniversityNancy Ghanem - Colorado State UniversityKiri A Michell - Colorado State UniversityBrayden T Smith - Colorado State UniversityLauren E Grabos - Colorado State UniversityNathaniel B Ketelhut - Colorado State UniversityNate P Bachman - Colorado State UniversityMeghan E Smith - Colorado State UniversityMelanie Le Sayec - King's College LondonSangeeta Rao - Colorado State UniversityChristopher L Gentile - Colorado State UniversityTiffany L Weir - Colorado State UniversityAna Rodriguez-Mateos - King's College LondonDouglas R Seals - University of Colorado BoulderFrank A Dinenno - Colorado State UniversitySarah A Johnson - Colorado State University
- Publication Details
- Food & function, v 14(6), pp 2621-2641
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Sciences
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000939461200001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85149255235
- Other Identifier
- 991021894590504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Food Science & Technology