title: Six weeks daily ingestion of whole blueberry powder increases natural killer cell counts and reduces arterial stiffness in sedentary males and females.
abstract: Evidence suggests that berries contain bioactive compounds, which reduce certain cancers and hypertension. Our hypothesis was that daily blueberry (BB) consumption would increase natural killer (NK) cells and plasma redox capacity and reduce blood pressure, augmentation index (AIx), central pulse wave velocity, and aortic systolic pressures (ASPs). Twenty-five men and postmenopausal women aged 18 to 50 years were recruited and randomized to BB (n, 13) or placebo groups (n, 12). Participants were provided with BB (equivalent to 250 g berries) or placebo powders each day for 6 weeks. Blood pressure, vascular performance testing, and blood samples were taken at baseline (presupplementation). Participants returned after 6 weeks and repeated all procedures. Presupplementation to postsupplementation comparisons for the main effects of treatment, time, and treatment-time interaction were made using a 2 (treatment) × 2 (times) repeated-measures analysis of variance for all vascular measures, redox status, and NK cell counts. Anthropometric measures were compared using t tests. Body mass, composition, and overall blood pressures were not affected in either group. Overall, AIx and ASPs were decreased in BB (treatment effect, P = .024 and P = .046, respectively). Plasma redox was not affected. Absolute NK cells were increased in BB (time, P = .001 and interaction, P = .012). Subjects (n, 9) with prehypertensive pressures (≥120/80 mm Hg, respectively) were examined as a subset using t tests and exhibited significant reductions in diastolic pressure (P = .038) from presupplementation to postsupplementation in BB. We conclude that BB ingestion for 6 weeks increases NK cells and reduces AIx, ASP, and diastolic pressures in sedentary males and females.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Boone, NC, 28608. Electronic address: mcanltysr@appstate.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: McAnulty
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Health and Exercise Science Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Health and Exercise Science Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Landram
authors.affiliation: Boone Dermatology, Clinic, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: D Stanton
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: Sydeena E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Klemka
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cheek
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Health and Exercise Science Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arms
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Health and Exercise Science Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: McAnulty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D029798:Blueberry Plants; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anthocyanins; Antioxidants; Blood pressure; Hypertension; Immunity; Neoplasms