IntroductionAn individual's risk of cardiovascular disease is affected by numerous factors, with hypertension among the most significant. Specifically, hypertension causes increased pressure within the blood vessels which can compromise the integrity of the vasculature. Blueberries possess compounds known as anthocyanins which exert anti‐hypertensive properties and may reduce blood pressure. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of daily blueberry ingestion on blood pressure, augmentation index (AIx), and central pulse wave velocity (cPWV) over a three week period, as well as to assess acute effects, one hour and two hours post‐consumption.MethodsParticipants (n=22) were composed of men and women between the ages of 40 to 70 years who met pre‐determined inclusion criteria. Participants were randomized into group A (n=10) or B (n=12) and received 38 g/d of freeze‐dried blueberry powder or placebo, respectively. Participants had baseline values obtained and then consumed A or B every evening with dinner for three weeks. Blood pressure, AIx, and cPWV were measured at the end of each week. At the end of the third week, participants had the weekly measures taken and then ingested 38g of A or B and had acute measures taken at one hour and two hours post ingestion.ResultsParticipants did not differ based on age, height, weight, body mass index, or percent body fat. Chronic blueberry ingestion resulted in significant treatment time interaction effects for systolic blood pressure (p=0.036). No chronic treatment time interactions were observed for diastolic blood pressure, AIx, or cPWV. With respect to one hour and two hours post‐consumption, significant treatment time interaction effects were found for systolic blood pressure (p=0.015). No acute treatment time interactions were found for diastolic blood pressure, AIx, or cPWV. Furthermore, no significant treatment time interactions were observed for energy, macronutrient, or micronutrient intake including nutrients known to affect blood pressure.ConclusionOf interest was the change in systolic blood pressure following both acute and chronic dosing. It was not supported to be mediated by a change in vessel distensibility since PWV was not altered. Therefore, the change in blood pressure was most likely due to a change in HR both following acute supplement ingestion and as a chronic effect over time. This finding is of interest due to the relatively short time course and requires further investigation.Support or Funding InformationU.S. Highbush Blueberry CouncilThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.