title: Effects of blackberry (Morus nigra L.) consumption on serum concentration of lipoproteins, apo A-I, apo B, and high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein and blood pressure in dyslipidemic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated blackberry (Persian mulberry) effects on apo A-I, apo B, high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in dyslipidemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this 8-week randomized clinical trial, 72 dyslipidemic patients were randomly divided into two groups: Intervention (300 mL/day blackberry juice with pulp) and control group (usual diets). Before and after the intervention, fasting blood samples were taken from both groups and serum concentration of lipoprotein, apo A-I and apo B, serum lipids (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], and triglyceride), hs-CRP were measured. Blood pressure before and after the study was measured with a mercury manometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 8 in the intervention group, apo A-I and HDL increased significantly (P = 0.015, P = 0.001, respectively), apo B and hs-CRP decreased significantly (P = 0.044, P = 0.04, respectively). Mean changes in apo A-I and HDL and apo B/apo A-I ratio were significant between the groups (P = 0.005, P = 0.014, and P = 0.009, respectively). After 8 weeks, there was a significant difference between hs-CRP mean values (P = 0.01) of the groups. At week 8, SBP decreased significantly (P = 0.005) in the intervention group with no significant differences for SBP mean values between the groups. No significant changes were observed in other lipid parameters and DBP in the intervention group and between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blackberry consumption may exert beneficial effects on apolipoproteins, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers in individuals with lipid disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Diettetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sahar Keshtkar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Aghababaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Endocrine Research Center (Firouzgar), Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shidfar
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Diettetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahavorgar
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoodreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gohari
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Davod
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Diettetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Vida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
keywords: Apolipoproteins; blackberry; blood pressure; high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein