BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries

Blueberries

Introduction

Nutritional epidemiology provides some evidence regarding the cardio-protective effects of foods high in polyphones, such as berries, tea, soy, and cocoa products (1-4). Blueberries are particularly high in polyphenolic ?avonoids in addition to containing signi?cant amounts of micronutrients and ?ber (5- 7). American blueberries include the lowbush or wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) and the high bush or cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), both of which have superior ranking among fruits and vegetables for their antiox- idant capacity, mainly due to their high anthocyanin content (93-235 mg/100 g berries) (6,7). In a comprehensive analysis of the antioxidant promise of commonly consumed polyphenol- rich beverages in the United States, blueberry juice was ranked among the peak 4 suppliers of dietary antioxidants after pomegranate juice extract, red wine, and Concord grape juice.

edible kernels have been commercialized as fresh or iced whole fruits, freeze-dried edible kernels, puree, juice extract, or wine (9-11). Although most processing methods cause a signi?cant decrease in the anthocy- anin content (10-12), freeze-drying has been reported to cause the least reduction in total polyphenol content of berries.

Several mechanistic studies provide evidence of antioxidative , antiin?ammatory , antihypertensive , antidiabetic (18,19), antiobesity (20), and antihyperlipidemic consequences of blueberries, providing likely rationale for cardio-protective mechanisms. founded on these mechanistic studies, consuming blueberries might favorably alter individual constituents of metabolic syndrome, a rapidly escalating public health difficulty in the US. Metabolic syndrome has been characterized by abdominal adiposity, dyslipidemia (high tri- glycerides, low HDL cholesterol), hypertension, impaired glu- cose tolerance, elevated oxidative stress, in?ammation, and increased risks for type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardio- vascular disease (CVD)7. Berry supplementation using

1Supported by the US Highbush Blueberry Council and by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center General Clinical

Blueberry assembly (Folsom, CA) were a combine of 2 blueberry cultivars, Tifblue and Rubel, in a 1:7 ratio of freeze-dried:fresh edible kernels, with no additives (Table 1). Participants obtained a daily dose of 50 g freeze-dried blueberries that were reconstituted in 480 mL water and vanilla extract or Splenda was supplemented founded on the preference of the participants. The participants were asked to consume 1 cup (240 mL) in the forenoon and the second in the night at smallest 6-8 h apart. Because the beverage made with reconstituted freeze-dried blueberries was thick and sticky in consistency, participants were also asked to rinse out each cup with an additional cup of water, thus leading to the consumption of ~960 mL ?uids/d in the blueberry group. The control group was asked to consume 960 mL water to match the ?uid intake of the blueberry group and was provided with containers to measure out the prescribed amount of water.

Study design.This was a single-blinded controlled study in which

participants were randomized to the blueberry or command group for 8 wk. Those in the blueberry group made 3 visits/wk to their study site (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) to ensure compliance by consuming the ?rst cup in the morning under observation by the research ...