The Health Effect of Diet Rich in Nordic Berries (Berry)

Marjukka Kolehmainen

Status: Completed

Conditions: Impaired Glucose Tolerance; Dyslipidemia; Low-grade Inflammation; Metabolic Syndrome

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: 400 g of bilberry; Dietary Supplement: 300 g of strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry; Other: Control diet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01414647

40361/05 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

124//2005

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 56 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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56 participants in 3 patient groups

SRC

Experimental group

Description:

Strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry intervention for 8 weeks

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: 300 g of strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry

BB

Experimental group

Description:

Bilberry intervention for 8 weeks

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: 400 g of bilberry

C

Experimental group

Description:

Control diet with restricted berry consumption

Treatment:

Other: Control diet