Journal
NUTRIENTS
Volume 7, Issue 6, Pages 4107-4123Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/nu7064107
Keywords
blueberries; endothelial function; endothelial dysfunction; prediabetes; hypertension; cardiovascular risk factors
Categories
Funding
- United States Highbush Blueberry Council
- National Institutes of Health from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [K01AT006975, P50AT002776-01]
- Office of Dietary Supplements
- Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence [NIH: P20-RR021945]
- Clinical Nutrition Research Unit [1P30-DK072476]
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health [1 U54 GM104940]
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Blueberry consumption has been shown to have various health benefits in humans. However, little is known about the effect of blueberry consumption on blood pressure, endothelial function and insulin sensitivity in humans. The present study investigated the role of blueberry consumption on modifying blood pressure in subjects with metabolic syndrome. In addition, endothelial function and insulin sensitivity (secondary measurements) were also assessed. A double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted in 44 adults (blueberry, n = 23; and placebo, n = 21). They were randomized to receive a blueberry or placebo smoothie twice daily for six weeks. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure, endothelial function and insulin sensitivity were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The blood pressure and insulin sensitivity did not differ between the blueberry and placebo groups. However, the mean change in resting endothelial function, expressed as reactive hyperemia index (RHI), was improved significantly more in the group consuming the blueberries versus the placebo group (p = 0.024). Even after adjusting for confounding factors, i.e., the percent body fat and gender, the blueberry group still had a greater improvement in endothelial function when compared to their counterpart (RHI; 0.32 +/- 0.13 versus -0.33 +/- 0.14; p = 0.0023). In conclusion, daily dietary consumption of blueberries did not improve blood pressure, but improved (i.e., increased) endothelial function over six weeks in subjects with metabolic syndrome.
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