Blueberry Supplementation and Inflammation Resolution After Exercise
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Appalachian State University
- Enrollment
- 49
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory oxylipins: 19-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), 20-HETE, 20-cooh-AA, 8,9-dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic (all ng/ml) acid; (diHETrE), 14,15-diHETrE
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine if 2-weeks supplementation with blueberries (1 cup/day) compared to placebo can mitigate muscle soreness and damage, and improve inflammation resolution and metabolic recovery during a 5-day period after engaging in an acute, 90-minute bout of eccentric exercise. The primary outcome will be plasma oxylipin levels, extending previously collected data showing that blueberry ingestion decreases post-exercise oxylipins generated from cytochrome P450 enzymes.
Detailed Description
Participants will be randomized to the blueberry or placebo groups. The parallel group design is being utilized in this study because of the "repeat exercise bout" effect (i.e., post-exercise muscle damage and inflammation are reduced when the same bout is repeated within days and weeks of the first bout). Participants will come to the lab at 7:00 am at the beginning of the 2-week supplementation period, and then Monday (eccentric exercise bout) and Tuesday through Friday (recovery) in an overnight fasted state. Seven blood samples will be collected and analyzed for various measures of muscle damage, oxylipins, and inflammation. After each of the blood draws, participants will provide a muscle soreness rating (DOMS). Three 24 h urine samples will be collected and analyzed for key metabolic markers of blueberry ingestion.
Visit #1 Pre-Study Study participants will come to the performance lab for orientation to study procedures. This will include a review of the consent form, completion of basic questionnaires, and an introduction to the eccentric muscle exercise bout and the strength/power performance testing protocol (about 1.5 hours) (visit #1). During visit #1, participants will be given two 3-day food records with thorough written and oral instructions on recording procedures (with food models). The 3-day food records will be completed on a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday sequence prior to visits #2 and #3. During visit #1, participants will be given three 24 h urine collection bottles with thorough written and oral instruction on collection procedures. The 24 h urine collection bottles will be collected on the day before visits #2, #3, and #7.
This will be followed by another lab session for pre-study measurements and sample collection (visit #2). Participants will be randomized to blueberry or placebo groups, and provided a 2-weeks supply of supplements. Participants in the blueberry and placebo groups will consume 26 g/d powder mixed in water each day in split doses (half in the morning, half in the afternoon). Compliance will be checked weekly through email correspondence from the Research Manager. A 3-day food record will be collected at the beginning and end of the 2-week supplementation period to assess the background diet. The 3-day food record will be turned in and reviewed by the research team, and analyzed for nutrient and flavonoid content using the Food Processor Version 11.1 (ESHA Research, Salem, OR, USA). ESHA's port utility (Version 4.0; ESHA Research, Salem, OR, USA) will be used to upload the Flavonoid Values for USDA Survey Foods and Beverages (FNDDS) 2007-2010 database. Food/beverage intake will be assessed for macro- and micro-nutrients, total flavonoids and subtotals for each of the six flavonoid subclasses, and three individual flavonoid values (quercetin, cyanidin, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)).
The study will include 5 other lab visits during a one-week period starting on a Monday (visit #3), with morning visits at 7:00 am on Tuesday through Friday (visits 4-7). At each of the 7 lab visits, study participants will come to the lab at 7:00 am not having consumed food or beverages (other than water) for at least the previous 9 hours, and having abstained from vigorous exercise for at least the previous 24-48 hours. The Monday session will take about 2.5 hours (7:00 to 9:30 am), and the Tuesday through Friday sessions will take about 30-45 minutes each. The total amount of time participants will be asked to volunteer for this study is about 8-9 hours at the performance lab.
Baseline Testing (Visit #2) Participants will come to the lab at 7:00 am in an overnight fasted state dressed in exercise clothes. Participants will provide a blood sample using standard phlebotomy procedures. Participants will turn in their 24 h urine collection bottle and 3-day food record. Height, body weight, and body composition will be measured in a private section of the lab. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) using the seca BIA scale will be used to assess body composition (i.e., the percent of body weight that is fat tissue) and body weight. Participants will remove shoes and socks and stand with bare feet on the seca scale for about 7-10 seconds while using the hands to grasp the side rails. Percent body fat will also be measured using the BodPod. Participants will sit inside the BodPod with a tight-fitting swim suit for about 10 minutes while body fat is calculated. Delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) will be assessed using a 1-10 scale.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
Masking Description
Blueberry powder supplement and a carbohydrate- and fiber-matched placebo powder with flavoring, aroma, and coloring.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 50 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Male or female, ages 18-50 years.
- •Non-smoker.
- •Body mass index less than 18.5-30 kg/m2 (not obese).
- •Not engaged in regular resistance training (less than 3 sessions per week).
- •Agree to train normally, maintain weight, and avoid the regular use of protein supplements, large-dose vitamin and mineral supplements, herbs, and medications that influence inflammation and immune function (especially Advil, Motrin, aspirin, and similar anti-inflammatory drugs) for the duration of the study. (Participant will review supplement and medication use with the Research Manager during orientation).
- •Agree to avoid consuming all berries including blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
- •Agree to consume no more than an average of five servings per day of vegetables and fruit.
- •Categorized as "low risk" using the American College of Sports Medicine screening questionnaire.
- •Generally healthy and without chronic disease including cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease, stroke), cancer, type 1 and 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Inability to comply with study requirements.
- •Engaged in regular resistance training (3 or more sessions per week, on average).
- •Body weight below 110 pounds.
- •Pregnant or breastfeeding.
- •Any other concurrent condition which, in the opinion of the primary investigator (PI), would preclude participation in this study or interfere with compliance.
- •Current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer (except for non-melanoma skin cancer).
- •History of allergic reactions to blueberry ingestion.
- •Postmenopausal.
Arms & Interventions
Placebo
26 g placebo powder per day matched for color, taste, aroma; two weeks intake.
Intervention: Placebo (Dietary Supplement)
Blueberry
26 g freeze-dried blueberry powder per day or approximately one cup fresh blueberries equivalent; two weeks intake.
Intervention: Blueberry (Dietary Supplement)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory oxylipins: 19-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), 20-HETE, 20-cooh-AA, 8,9-dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic (all ng/ml) acid; (diHETrE), 14,15-diHETrE
Time Frame: Change from pre-exercise to post-exercise (immediately after, and 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-days after
Inflammation biomarkers
Secondary Outcomes
- Serum concentration of creatine kinase(Change from pre-exercise to post-exercise (immediately after, and 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-days after)
- Urine concentration of hippuric acid(Change from pre-supplementation to post-2-weeks supplementation of blueberries or placebo)