Risk factors for cardiovascular disease Circulatory System
Conditions
Interventions
Participants were randomized in a cross-over design and received a wild blueberry (25 g freeze-dried wild blueberry providing 375 mg of anthocyanins, in 250 mL of water) or a placebo drink (sensory ch
Sponsors
University of Milan (Italy)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Wish to participate 2. Male subjects 3. Healthy subjects with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease such as: smoking (more than 10 cigarettes/day), pre-hypertension (systolic pressure 120-139 mm Hg and diastolic pressure between 80-89 mm Hg), high serum cholesterol (more than 200 mg/dl), low HDL cholesterol (lower than 40 mg/dl), high LDL cholesterol (more than 130 mg/dl), high triglycerides (more than 150 mg/dl) and overweight body mass index (BMI) more than 25) 4. Signed informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Individuals with secondary hypertension or obesity (BMI > 30) 2. Diabetes, renal insufficiency, known food allergies, chronic constipation, diarrhea or any other gastrointestinal problem, or diseases 3. Use of any drugs, supplements, specific prebiotics or prebiotics or medications at least one month before the beginning of the experiment 4. Volunteers who did not eat fruits and vegetables 5. Difference in dietary habits in particular for food rich in antioxidant compounds: high (> 5 portions/day) or low ( 3 drinks per week) 7. Vegetarian, vegan or macrobiotic 8. Subjects with specific aversion to blueberries or their products
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The following outcomes were measured at the beginning and at the end of each experimental period: 1. The improvement of peripheral vascular function (measured by a non-invasive pletismographic method) 2. The reduction of endogenous oxidized DNA bases and the resistance to H2O2-induced DNA damage (evaluated in blood mononuclear cells by Comet assay) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The following outcomes were measured at the beginning and at the end of each experimental period: 1. Body mass index (BMI) 2. Nutritional biomarkers [anthocyanins (ACNs), vitamin C, folate, vitamin B12, glutathione (GSH/ GSSG)] 3. Changes in blood pressure (diastolic and systolic blood pressure) and markers of endothelial function: [soluble vascular adhesion molecule concentration (sVCAM-1), total nitric oxide (NO)]. 4. Changes in glucose and lipid profile (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) 5. Changes in markers of inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-¦Á), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] 6. Modulation of cell DNA repair activity and enzyme activities [glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px)] 7. Changes in serum creatinine, S-aspartate aminotransferase, S-alanine aminotransferase and S-gamma glutamiltransferase | — |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed