title: Berry meals and risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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=31, of which 28 completed the study) and the other group with lifestyle intervention only (control group, diet 2, N=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 <0.001 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=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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: H-M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Suomela
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tahvonen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaarno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venojärvi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viikari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kallio
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D028321:Plant Preparations; D000410:Alanine Transaminase