The Health Effect of Diet Rich in Nordic Berries (Berry)

The Effect of Diet Rich in Nordic Berries on Gut Microbiota, Glucose and Lipid Metabolism and Metabolism on Fenolic Compounds

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Metabolic Syndrome; Dyslipidemia; Impaired Glucose Tolerance; Low-grade Inflammation
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: 300 g of strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry; Dietary supplement: 400 g of bilberry; Other: Control diet

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 Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 56
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Finland
  • Kuopio, Finland, FIN-70211
    • University of Eastern Finland, Dpet of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 50 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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 Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: SRC; Strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry intervention for 8 weeks	Dietary supplement: 300 g of strawberry, raspberry and cloudberry; 100 g of strawberry puree, 100 g of frozen raspberries and 100 g frozen cloudberries were concumed daily for 8 weeks. Bilberry consumption was restricted.
Experimental: BB; Bilberry intervention for 8 weeks	Dietary supplement: 400 g of bilberry; Equivalent amount to 400 g of fresh bilberries were consumed as 40 g of dried bilberries and as 200 g of frozen bilberries. Restriction of use of strawberries, raspberries and cloudberries were set.
Experimental: C; Control diet with restricted berry consumption	Other: Control diet; Control diet, ie. habitual diet with restriction of berry consumption was consumed for eight weeks; Other Names: Diet with restricted consumption of berries.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Marjukka Kolehmainen
• Collaborators: VTT Technical Research Centre, Finland
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Riitta Törrönen, Adjunct Professor, University of Eastern Finland

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Puupponen-Pimia R, Seppanen-Laakso T, Kankainen M, Maukonen J, Torronen R, Kolehmainen M, Leppanen T, Moilanen E, Nohynek L, Aura AM, Poutanen K, Tomas-Barberan FA, Espin JC, Oksman-Caldentey KM. Effects of ellagitannin-rich berries on blood lipids, gut microbiota, and urolithin production in human subjects with symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2013 Dec;57(12):2258-63. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201300280. Epub 2013 Aug 12.
• Kolehmainen M, Mykkanen O, Kirjavainen PV, Leppanen T, Moilanen E, Adriaens M, Laaksonen DE, Hallikainen M, Puupponen-Pimia R, Pulkkinen L, Mykkanen H, Gylling H, Poutanen K, Torronen R. Bilberries reduce low-grade inflammation in individuals with features of metabolic syndrome. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2012 Oct;56(10):1501-10. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201200195. Epub 2012 Sep 7.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2006
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 10, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 10, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): August 11, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 17, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2018
• Last Verified: May 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Inflammation; Metabolic syndrome; Gene expression; Lipid metabolism; Glucose metabolism; Vaccinium myrtillus; Bilberry
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Insulin Resistance; Hyperinsulinism; Hyperglycemia; Lipid Metabolism Disorders; Inflammation; Metabolic Syndrome; Glucose Intolerance; Dyslipidemias
• Other Study ID Numbers: 124//2005; 40361/05 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Tekes, National Technology Agency of Finland)