title: A blueberry-enriched diet attenuates nephropathy in a rat model of hypertension via reduction in oxidative stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess renoprotective effects of a blueberry-enriched diet in a rat model of hypertension. Oxidative stress (OS) appears to be involved in the development of hypertension and related renal injury. Pharmacological antioxidants can attenuate hypertension and hypertension-induced renal injury; however, attention has shifted recently to the therapeutic potential of natural products as antioxidants. Blueberries (BB) have among the highest antioxidant capacities of fruits and vegetables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male spontaneously hypertensive rats received a BB-enriched diet (2% w/w) or an isocaloric control diet for 6 or 12 weeks or 2 days. Compared to controls, rats fed BB-enriched diet for 6 or 12 weeks exhibited lower blood pressure, improved glomerular filtration rate, and decreased renovascular resistance. As measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, significant decreases in total reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite, and superoxide production rates were observed in kidney tissues in rats on long-term dietary treatment, consistent with reduced pathology and improved function. Additionally, measures of antioxidant status improved; specifically, renal glutathione and catalase activities increased markedly. Contrasted to these observations indicating reduced OS in the BB group after long-term feeding, similar measurements made in rats fed the same diet for only 2 days yielded evidence of increased OS; specifically, significant increases in total ROS, peroxynitrite, and superoxide production rates in all tissues (kidney, brain, and liver) assayed in BB-fed rats. These results were evidence of "hormesis" during brief exposure, which dissipated with time as indicated by enhanced levels of catalase in heart and liver of BB group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term feeding of BB-enriched diet lowered blood pressure, preserved renal hemodynamics, and improved redox status in kidneys of hypertensive rats and concomitantly demonstrated the potential to delay or attenuate development of hypertension-induced renal injury, and these effects appear to be mediated by a short-term hormetic response.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carrie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Elks
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Nithya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mariappan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shukitt-Hale
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Donald K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029798:Blueberry Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D059165:Hormesis; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003404:Creatinine; D002374:Catalase; D005978:Glutathione