Berry meals and risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is commonly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes, and can thus be regarded as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. In this study we compared the effects of lifestyle intervention with and without industrial berry products, on risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome on slightly overweight women. Subjects/Methods: Sixty-one female volunteers (average age 42.9 years) were recruited and randomized for a 20-week dietary intervention trial with two parallel treatment groups, one lifestyle intervention group with berry products equaling with an average daily dose of 163 g of northern berries (berry group, diet 1, N ¼ 31, of which 28 completed the study) and the other group with lifestyle intervention only (control group, diet 2, N ¼ 30, of which 22 completed the study). Results: Increased berry consumption as part of the normal daily diet was the only lifestyle difference between the two intervention groups. The major effects achieved by diet 1 were changes in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and adiponectin (at P-values o0.001 and 0.002, respectively). A statistically significant difference between the two intervention groups was the higher decrease in the ALAT value in the berry group (P ¼ 0.003). Conclusions: The 23% decrease in the ALAT value, from 20.29 to 15.66 U/l in the berry group may be regarded as nutritionally significant by enhancing the liver function. This may contribute positively to the low-grade systemic inflammation in body and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Different berries and berry fractions have various but slightly positive effects on the associated variables of metabolic diseases on overweight and obese women

“…According to a recent review, experimental and epidemiological studies have provided abundant evidence that adiponectin improves insulin sensitivity, and has potent antiatherosclerotic effects (Stefan and Stumvoll, 2002). In our earlier study adiponectin increased during mixed berry diet, although the difference between berry and lifestyle groups was not statistically significant (Lehtonen et al, 2010). In the present trial adiponectin was decreased more or less during all berry interventions.…”

“…Based on our earlier work (Lehtonen et al, 2010), 85 subjects formed the minimal size of study population needed to achieve sufficient statistical power. In the calculations, differences in the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values between the intervention and the control groups were utilized.…”

“…An earlier study of ours showed positive effects of berries and berry products on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) activity, a biochemical marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver (Lehtonen et al, 2010). In the present clinical trial, our aim was to compare the effects of two berries used in the previous study, BB and SB, as well as of two edible fractions of SB, the phenolic alcohol extract (SBe) and SBo, on variables of overweight-associated diseases.…”

Postprandial hyperglycemia and insulin response are affected by sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) berry and its ethanol-soluble metabolites

“…In addition, it may influence the adipocyte function and increase c-reactive protein concentrations in plasma (McCarty, 2005). Sea buckthorn has been shown to reduce plasma c-reactive protein (Larmo et al, 2007) and a mixed berry diet enhanced liver function in our recent clinical trial (Lehtonen et al, 2010b). Meals that evoke high glycemic or insulinemic responses induce subsequent mild, late postprandial hypoglycemia and -insulinemia (Brand-Miller et al, 2002), resulting in a surge in adrenaline output (Ludwig et al, 1999) and inflammation mediator secretion (McCarty, 2005).…”

Nuts and Berries for Heart Health

“…These results contrasted with those of an earlier study involving healthy young women consuming 750 mL/d of cranberry juice that showed no effects on blood antioxidant status or oxidative DNA damage [54], but the differences may have related to the study population, conditions of the test beverage, and outcome measures. Recent randomized clinical studies have related consumption of mixed berries (bilberries, lingonberries, strawberries, and black currants) to increased plasma concentrations of polyphenols and vitamin C, reduced blood pressure, increased HDL cholesterol, and inhibition of platelet function [55] and to reduced alanine aminotransferase levels as a marker of fatty liver-related inflammation in MetS [56]. Acute effects from berry meals are also detectable, as shown by a recent meal test study showing delayed and attenuated glycemic responses resulting from adding berries (black currants, bilberries, cranberries and strawberries) to a sugar load [57].…”