title: A nutrient-dense, high-fiber, fruit-based supplement bar increases HDL cholesterol, particularly large HDL, lowers homocysteine, and raises glutathione in a 2-wk trial.
abstract: Dietary intake modulates disease risk, but little is known how components within food mixtures affect pathophysiology. A low-calorie, high-fiber, fruit-based nutrient-dense bar of defined composition (e.g., vitamins and minerals, fruit polyphenolics, β-glucan, docosahexaenoic acid) appropriate for deconstruction and mechanistic studies is described and evaluated in a pilot trial. The bar was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Changes in cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk biomarkers were measured after 2 wk twice-daily consumption of the bar, and compared against baseline controls in 25 healthy adults. Plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) increased 6.2% (P=0.001), due primarily to a 28% increase in large HDL (HDL-L; P<0.0001). Total plasma homocysteine (Hcy) decreased 19% (P=0.017), and glutathione (GSH) increased 20% (P=0.011). The changes in HDL and Hcy are in the direction associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline; increased GSH reflects improved antioxidant defense. Changes in biomarkers linked to insulin resistance and inflammation were not observed. A defined food-based supplement can, within 2 wk, positively impact metabolic biomarkers linked to disease risk. These results lay the groundwork for mechanistic/deconstruction experiments to identify critical bar components and putative synergistic combinations responsible for observed effects.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California, 94609, USA.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mietus-Snyder
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shigenaga
authors.forename: Jung H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Swapna V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Shenvi
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lilienstein
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: Ginny
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gildengoren
authors.forename: Joyce C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: Bruce N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Ames
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D006710:Homocysteine; D005978:Glutathione