title: Intake of bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease by inducing favorable changes in lipoprotein profiles.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death, and lifestyle modification, including dietary changes, is recommended to improve this condition. In this study, regular consumption of bilberries was hypothesized to have beneficial effects on CVD risk reduction, by changes in human health indicators such as decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TGs) and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The research involved women (n=25) and men (n=11) who consumed 150 g of frozen stored bilberries 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose, liver enzymes, creatinine, albumin, magnesium, and antiradical activity were measured. Except for the body mass index of women (P=.019), no significant changes were found for anthropometric indicators. The consumption of bilberries led to a decrease in the following parameters: total cholesterol (P=.017), LDL-C (P=.0347), TG (P=.001), glucose (P=.005), albumin (P=.001), γ-glutamyltransferase (P=.046), and a positive increase in HDL-C (P=.044). In men, additionally, favorable changes were observed in total cholesterol (P=.004), glucose (P=.015), albumin (P=.028), aspartate aminotransferase (P=.012), γ-glutamyltransferase (P=.013), and HDL-C (P=.009; in this group, LDL-C increased [P=.007]). Changes in other parameters were not significant, for both women and men. Thus, the regular intake of bilberries can be important to reduce CVDs risk, by decreasing LDL-C/TG and increasing HDL-C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 94976 Nitra-Chrenová, Slovakia. Electronic address: marta.habanova@uniag.sk.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal. Electronic address: jorgesaraiva@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, 83232 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: miroslav.haban@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haban
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 94976 Nitra-Chrenová, Slovakia. Electronic address: Marianna.schwarzova@uniag.sk.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwarzova
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 94976 Nitra-Chrenová, Slovakia. Electronic address: peter.chlebo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chlebo
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 94976 Nitra-Chrenová, Slovakia. Electronic address: lenkapredna@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Predna
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 94976 Nitra-Chrenová, Slovakia. Electronic address: jan.gazo@uniag.sk.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gažo
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 51630 Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: joanna.wyka@up.wroc.pl.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wyka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D000872:Anthocyanins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; C073305:Vaccinium myrtillus extract; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase
keywords: Bilberries; Biochemical parameters; Cardiovascular diseases risk; Healthy participants; Lipid profile