The Health Effect of Diet Rich in Nordic Berries

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Metabolic Syndrome; Low-grade Inflammation; Dyslipidemia; Impaired Glucose Tolerance
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: 300 g of strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry; Dietary Supplement: 400 g of bilberry; Other: Control diet

• Registration Number: NCT01414647
• Lead Sponsor: Marjukka Kolehmainen

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-01
• Primary Completion: 2006-12
• Study Completion: 2010-03
• Study First Submitted: 2011-08-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-08-10
• Study First Posted: 2011-08-11
• Status Verified: 2018-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-05-12
• Last Update Posted: 2018-05-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 56

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
SRC	300 g of strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry	Strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry intervention for 8 weeks
BB	400 g of bilberry	Bilberry intervention for 8 weeks
C	Control diet	Control diet with restricted berry consumption

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Glucose level	week 8	Fasting glucose level oral glucose tolerance status at study week 8
Cholesterol level	week 8	total, HDL and LDL cholesterol level at the study week 8
Inflammation markers	week 8	Various inflammation markers were measured at the study week 8

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Markers of sterol metabolism	week 8	Markers of cholesterol absorption and synthesis were measured
gene expression in PBMCs	study week 8	Global gene expression analyses in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Eastern Finland, Dpet of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition; 🇫🇮 Kuopio, Finland