title: Incorporating freeze-dried strawberry powder into a high-fat meal does not alter postprandial vascular function or blood markers of cardiovascular disease risk: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Postprandial dysmetabolism-an exaggerated spike in triglycerides, glucose, and insulin-increases cardiovascular disease risk by inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Polyphenol-rich foods may blunt these effects when they are incorporated into a high-fat, calorie-dense meal. Strawberries are a rich source of polyphenols, but there is little research on their postprandial effects.
  
  
  
  This study was designed to investigate the effect of adding 40 g freeze-dried strawberry powder (∼1 lb. or 0.45 kg fresh strawberries) to a high-fat (50 g total fat) meal on postprandial vascular function, as well as triglyceride, glucose, and insulin responses.
  
  
  
  Healthy, overweight or obese [mean ± SEM body mass index (in kg/m2): 31 ± 0.5] adults (mean ± SEM age: 28 ± 2 y; 17 men and 13 women) consumed a control meal and a strawberry meal in a randomized crossover design. Testing sessions were separated by ≥1 wk for men and ∼1 mo for women to control for hormonal variations. Blood samples were obtained before the meal and 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after the meal. Central blood pressure and arterial stiffness indexes were measured at baseline and 2 and 4 h postmeal with the use of pulse waveform analysis.
  
  
  
  There were no significant differences between the strawberry and control meals for any outcomes. Consumption of either meal significantly decreased the augmentation index at 2 and 4 h (P < 0.002) and significantly increased triglycerides, insulin, and glucose at all time points (P < 0.001) relative to baseline.
  
  
  
  The strawberry intervention did not alter vascular function or attenuate postprandial metabolic derangements in triglycerides, glucose, or insulin relative to the control meal. Additional research is needed to clarify whether strawberries or other polyphenol-rich interventions improve postprandial responses, and future studies should take into account the acute meal-induced improvements in measures of vascular function. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01989637.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences.
authors.forename: Chesney K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5658-6173
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences.
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2914-9055
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Skulas-Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Lafayette College, Easton, PA.
authors.forename: Trent L
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8006-9184
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Gaugler
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, and.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; and.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Proctor
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, pmk3@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Penny M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6012-4900
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D031985:Fragaria; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D059808:Polyphenols; D011208:Powders; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: augmentation index; cardiovascular disease; hyperlipidemia; phytochemicals; postprandial dysmetabolism