Dietary supplementation of strawberry attenuates indices of vascular inflammation and dysfunction in diabetic db/db mice. The effect of strawberry on vasculature is endothelial-dependent and possibly mediated through their circulating metabolites. Strawberry might complement conventional therapies to improve vascular complications in diabetics.

BBM restored cell surface GAGs and attenuated endothelial inflammation in diabetic HAECs. Blueberry might complement conventional therapies to improve vascular complications in diabetes.

Scope: In diabetes, endothelial inflammation and dysfunction play a pivotal role in the development of vascular disease. This study investigates the effect of dietary blueberries on vascular complications and gut microbiome in diabetic mice. Methods and Results: Seven-week-old diabetic db/db mice consume a standard diet (db/db) or a diet supplemented with 3.8% freeze-dried blueberry (db/db+BB) for 10 weeks. Control db/+ mice are fed a standard diet (db/+). Vascular inflammation is assessed by measuring monocyte binding to vasculature and inflammatory markers. Isometric tension procedures are used to assess mesenteric artery function. db/db mice exhibit enhanced vascular inflammation and reduced endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation as compared to db/+ mice, but these are improved in db/db+BB mice. Blueberry supplementation reduces the expression of NOX4 and I𝜿K𝜷 in the aortic vessel and vascular endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from db/db+BB compared to db/db mice. The blueberry metabolites serum reduces glucose and palmitate induced endothelial inflammation in mouse aortic ECs. Further, blueberry supplementation increases commensal microbes and modulates the functional potential of gut microbes in diabetic mice. Conclusion: Dietary blueberry suppresses vascular inflammation, attenuates arterial endothelial dysfunction, and supports the growth of commensal microbes in diabetic mice. The endothelial-specific vascular benefits of blueberries are mediated through NOX4 signaling.

No abstract

No abstract