Dyslipidemia, Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Low-grade Inflammation, Metabolic Syndrome
Conditions
Keywords
Bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, Metabolic syndrome, Glucose metabolism, Lipid metabolism, Inflammation, Gene expression
Brief summary
Dietary polyphenols might have beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism based on the studies made in animals or cell cultures. The findings regarding the possible decrease of low-grade inflammation are existing also in humans. Low-grade inflammation has been suggested to be a mechanistic link between obesity and its consequences on cardiometabolic health. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of diet rich in berries on glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammatory markers.
Detailed description
Berries are traditionally an important part of the Nordic diet. About 50 different berries are grown in the northern region, and about half of them are edible. Phenolic compounds are one of the most diverse group of secondary metabolites present in edible plants, and berries are especially rich in them. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans and complex phenolic polymers (polymeric tannins) are typical for berries. Phenolic compounds are reported to have a variety of beneficial biological properties. They are potent antioxidants, and exhibit various other physiological activities including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiallergic, anticarcinogenic and antihypertensive activities. Epidemiological studies indicate that diet rich in phenolic compound correlates with lower risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of diet rich in berries on glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammatory markers and gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in subjects with features of metabolic syndrome. Randomized, controlled clinical intervention including 4 wk run-in period, 8 wk dietary intervention and 4 wk recovery period was conducted.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT300 g of strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry
100 g of strawberry puree, 100 g of frozen raspberries and 100 g frozen cloudberries were concumed daily for 8 weeks. Bilberry consumption was restricted.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT400 g of bilberry
Equivalent amount to 400 g of fresh bilberries were consumed as 40 g of dried bilberries and as 200 g of frozen bilberries. Restriction of use of strawberries, raspberries and cloudberries were set.
OTHERControl diet
Control diet, ie. habitual diet with restriction of berry consumption was consumed for eight weeks
Sponsors
VTT Technical Research Centre, Finland
Marjukka Kolehmainen
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* overweight (BMI 26-39 kg/m2), and two of the following: * elevated fasting plasma glucose in the absence of diabetes (5.6-6.9 mmol/l) * abnormal serum lipid concentration: fasting serum triglyceride concentration \>1.7 mmol/L, fasting serum HDL cholesterol \<1.0 mmol/L (males) or \<1.3 mmol/L (females)) * waist circumference \>102 cm (males) or \>88 cm (females) * blood pressure \>130/85 mmHg
Exclusion criteria
* chronic diseases * use of lipid lowering medication
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose level | week 8 | Fasting glucose level oral glucose tolerance status at study week 8 |
| Cholesterol level | week 8 | total, HDL and LDL cholesterol level at the study week 8 |
| Inflammation markers | week 8 | Various inflammation markers were measured at the study week 8 |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Markers of sterol metabolism | week 8 | Markers of cholesterol absorption and synthesis were measured |
| gene expression in PBMCs | study week 8 | Global gene expression analyses in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) |
Countries
Finland
Outcome results
None listed