Dietary Strawberries Improve Biomarkers of Antioxidant Status and Endothelial Function in Adults with Cardiometabolic Risks in a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.

Arpita Basu,Robert Hal Scofield,Jeffrey L Ebersole,Kenneth Izuora,Nancy M Betts

doi:10.3390/antiox10111730

Abstract

Strawberries, a popularly consumed berry fruit, are rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant effects. In this study, we examined the effects of two dietary achievable doses of strawberries on the antioxidant status and biomarkers of endothelial function in adults with features of metabolic syndrome and a confirmed low baseline of fruit and vegetable intake. In a 14-week randomized controlled crossover study, participants were assigned to one of three groups for four weeks separated by a one-week washout period: control powder, one serving (low dose: 13 g strawberry powder/day), or 2.5 servings (high dose: 32 g strawberry powder/day). Blood samples and health data were collected at baseline and at the end of each four-week phase of intervention. Thirty-three participants completed all three phases of the trial. Significant increases were observed in serum antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity as well as decreases in lipid peroxidation after both low and high dose strawberry phases when compared with the control phase. Significant decreases were also observed in soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α with the high dose strawberry phase. These data confirm that consuming strawberries for four weeks significantly improves antioxidant status, endothelial function, and inflammation in adults with cardiometabolic risks.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilIn recent years, accumulated evidence from several lines of research has supported the benefits of dietary berries for improving cardiometabolic risk in the adult population [1,2,3,4].Most of these benefits have been attributed to the role of berry phytochemicals, especially the polyphenolic flavonoids and other bioactive compounds, towards minimizing oxidative stress, inflammation, and related pathological pathways underlying diabetes and vascular dysfunction [5]
Oxidative stress has been positively correlated with endothelial dysfunction [6,7], and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, such as adhesion and inflammation molecules, have been shown to be modulated by dietary polyphenols found in plant-based diets [8]
While epidemiological studies show an inverse association of dietary berry consumption with diabetes risk [1,2], randomized controlled trials on the effects of berries on biomarkers of antioxidant/oxidative stress status and endothelial function are lacking in adults with cardiometabolic risk factors

Summary

Introduction

In recent years, accumulated evidence from several lines of research has supported the benefits of dietary berries for improving cardiometabolic risk in the adult population [1,2,3,4]. Most of these benefits have been attributed to the role of berry phytochemicals, especially the polyphenolic flavonoids and other bioactive compounds, towards minimizing oxidative stress, inflammation, and related pathological pathways underlying diabetes and vascular dysfunction [5]. While epidemiological studies show an inverse association of dietary berry consumption with diabetes risk [1,2], randomized controlled trials on the effects of berries on biomarkers of antioxidant/oxidative stress status and endothelial function are lacking in adults with cardiometabolic risk factors. iations.

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Conclusion