Effect of Blueberry Consumption on Metabolic Syndrome & DNA Damage

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Insulin Resistance; Metabolic Syndrome; DNA Damage
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: Blueberry Powder

• Registration Number: NCT02075307
• Lead Sponsor: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

Brief Summary

Obesity usually brings with it disturbances in the body that increase the chances of developing serious diseases like diabetes and cancer. These disturbances include one or more symptoms of a condition called "metabolic syndrome" that often leads to diabetes. High levels of damage to the DNA that makes up our chromosomes have also been observed in obese people. It is possible that these two disturbances are connected. The goal of this project is to test this whether consumption of blueberries will improve these abnormalities.

Detailed Description

Unbalanced diets rich in refined carbohydrate calories, saturated fats, and trans fats, but low in vitamins, minerals, fiber, polyphenolics and ω-3 fatty acids are common in the United States, particularly among the obese. Insulin resistance and high levels of DNA damage commonly accompany obesity. There also appears to be a relationship between oxidative DNA-damage and biomarkers that characterize metabolic syndrome. The bioactivity of blueberries is usually attributed to their high content of polyphenolics which can reduce oxidative DNA damage. Since oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA is a suggested causal factor leading to increased insulin resistance, we will test if blueberry consumption can be an ameliorative dietary factor for insulin resistance as well. If blueberry consumption both shifts metabolism away from insulin resistance and reduces DNA damage, it may be a useful tool to assist in understanding relationships between these two obesity-associated conditions.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-01
• Study First Submitted: 2014-02-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-02-27
• Study First Posted: 2014-03-03
• Primary Completion: 2017-04-04
• Study Completion: 2017-04-04
• Status Verified: 2020-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-12-22
• Last Update Posted: 2020-12-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 7

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo Powder	Placebo	The placebo group will receive placebo powder in the same amounts for the same duration.
Blueberry Powder	Blueberry Powder	The intervention group will receive the Blueberry freeze-dried powder equivalent to 1 cup of whole Blueberries twice a day for 8 weeks (i.e. 2 cups/day).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells	Baseline and 2 months	DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) will be measured.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Insulin resistance	Baseline and 2 months	Insulin resistance will be measured by a 2-hr glucose tolerance test.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland; 🇺🇸 Oakland, California, United States