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Effect of Blueberries on Bone Turnover

Phase 1
Conditions
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
Bone Loss, Age-related
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Blueberry Medium
Dietary Supplement: Blueberry Low
Dietary Supplement: Blueberry High
Dietary Supplement: Blueberry Baseline
Registration Number
NCT02630797
Lead Sponsor
Purdue University
Brief Summary

This study uses a bone labeling calcium tracer methodology to compare the dose-response effect of blueberry consumption on calcium retention and bone loss. Post-menopausal women will receive food or beverage products containing freeze-dried blueberries in the amount equivalent to 0.75 (low), 1.5 (medium), and 3 cups (high) of fresh blueberries per day over a 42-day period. The hypothesis is that the polyphenolics found in blueberries will reduce calcium loss from bones.

Detailed Description

Participants will be dosed with Ca-41, a rare long-lived radioisotope of calcium. After the equilibration of tracer in the body and its deposition in bones (150 days), subjects will be randomized to one of 6 dose sequences, all of which will begin with a 42-day baseline period. During baseline, 24-hour urine will be collected every 14 days. Following baseline, subjects will enter a 42-day intervention period with one of three doses of blueberries equivalent to 0.75 (low), 1.5 (medium), and 3 cups (high) of blueberries per day. Each dose will be provided in the form of freeze-dried blueberry powder incorporated in 2-4 foods or beverages per day. During the intervention, 24-hour urine will be collected weekly for 6 weeks except week 1. After intervention, subjects will enter a 42-day washout period, during which 24-hour urine will be collected every 3 weeks. The entire study duration will be 444 days for subjects who have not been dosed with Ca-41 previously. In a crossover design, all subjects will complete three 42-day intervention periods corresponding to the three doses of blueberries (low, medium, and high), each followed by a 42-day washout period. The dose-response effect of continuous blueberry consumption over a 42-day period on bone resorption in healthy post-menopausal women will be studied by measuring the loss of Ca-41 in urine by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Female subject is healthy
  • Subject is > 4 years past the onset of natural menopause or total hysterectomy
Exclusion Criteria
  • History of metabolic bone disease or low trauma fractures;
  • Subject taking osteoporosis treatment drugs or glucocorticoids within 6 months of the beginning of the study;
  • Subjects taking bisphosphonates within 2 years of the beginning of the study;
  • History of cancer, thromboembolisms, clotting disorders, uncontrolled hypertension, abnormal thyroid function, malabsorption syndrome, seizure disorders, or heart attack;
  • BMI > 35 kg/m2;
  • Subjects who will not comply with study interventions ;
  • Subjects who will not stop taking natural product supplements of their own selection.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Blueberry MediumBlueberry MediumTwo blueberry products per day containing an equivalent of 1.5 cups of fresh blueberries provided as part of usual dietary intake for 42 days
Blueberry LowBlueberry LowOne blueberry product per day containing an equivalent of 0.75 cups of fresh blueberries provided as part of usual dietary intake for 42 days
Blueberry HighBlueberry HighFour blueberry products per day containing an equivalent of 3 cups of fresh blueberries provided as part of usual dietary intake for 42 days
Blueberry baselineBlueberry BaselineNo blueberry products provided as part of the usual dietary intake
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Ca-41 / Ca ratio in 24-hour urinary excretion to estimate calcium loss from boneFrom the beginning of baseline (week 0) to the end of the 3rd washout period (week 42)

Urinary Ca-41 excretion will be expressed as Ca-41/Ca ratio, which is unit-less, and converted to a percent change from the baseline value.

24-hour urine will be collected approximately every 2 weeks during baseline (week 0, 2, 4, and 6), weekly (except for week 1) during the low, medium, and high blueberry dose interventions completed in a randomized order (weeks 8-12, 20-24, 32-36) and every 3 weeks during the washout periods (weeks 15, 18, 27, 30, 39, 42). Ca-41/Ca ratios will be measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism: RANK ligandWeeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

RANK-L will be expressed in pmol/L and measured by ELISA.

Fasting blood will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Fasting blood and urine analysis of blueberry polyphenolic metabolitesWeeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

Polyphenol concentrations in urine and serum will be expressed in molar units and compared against reference values and across the study periods. Polyphenolic metabolites will be measured by LC-MSMS.

Fasting blood and urine will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Serum and urine biochemical markers of bone metabolism: calcium concentrationWeeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

Calcium concentration in urine and serum will be expressed in mg/L and measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.

Fasting blood and urine will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism: Insulin Dependent Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1)Weeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

IGF-1 will be expressed in ng/mL and measured by ELISA.

Fasting blood will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism: OsteoprotegrinWeeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

Osteoprotegerin will be expressed in pmol/L and measured by ELISA.

Fasting blood will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism: 25(OH) Vitamin DWeeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

25(OH) Vitamin D will be expressed in ng/mL and measured by LC/MS.

Fasting blood will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism: SclerostinWeeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

Sclerostin will be expressed in ng/mL and measured by ELISA.

Fasting blood will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Urine biochemical markers of bone metabolism: N-terminal telopeptide (NTX)Weeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

NTX will be expressed in ng/mL and measured by ELISA.

Fasting urine will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism: procollagen I intact N-terminal (PINP)Weeks 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42

PINP will be will be expressed in ug/L and measured by ELISA.

Fasting blood will be collected at the start and end of baseline (weeks 0 and 6), at the end of the low, medium, and high dose blueberry interventions (weeks 12, 24, and 36), and at the end of the 3 washout periods (weeks 18, 30, 42).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Nutrition Science Purdue University

🇺🇸

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

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