title: Strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries in the metabolic syndrome: clinical perspectives.
abstract: Emerging science supports therapeutic roles of strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries in metabolic syndrome, a prediabetic state characterized by several cardiovascular risk factors. Interventional studies reported by our group and others have demonstrated the following effects: strawberries lowering total and LDL-cholesterol, but not triglycerides, and decreasing surrogate biomarkers of atherosclerosis (malondialdehyde and adhesion molecules); blueberries lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lipid oxidation and improving insulin resistance; and low-calorie cranberry juice selectively decreasing biomarkers of lipid oxidation (oxidized LDL) and inflammation (adhesion molecules) in metabolic syndrome. Mechanistic studies further explain these observations as up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, reduction in renal oxidative damage, and inhibition of the activity of carbohydrate digestive enzymes or angiotensin-converting enzyme by these berries. These findings need confirmation in future studies with a focus on the effects of strawberry, blueberry, or cranberry intervention in clinical biomarkers and molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Sciences, 301 Human Sciences, Oklahoma State University , Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6141, United States.
authors.forename: Arpita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D029798:Blueberry Plants; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D031985:Fragaria; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D029799:Vaccinium macrocarpon
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides