Strawberries, Blueberries, and Cranberries in the Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Perspectives
Abstract
Emerging science supports therapeutic roles of strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries in metabolic syndrome, a prediabetic state characterized by several cardiovascular risk factors. Interventional studies reported by our group and others have demonstrated the following effects: strawberries lowering total and LDL-cholesterol, but not triglycerides, and decreasing surrogate biomarkers of atherosclerosis (malondialdehyde and adhesion molecules); blueberries lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lipid oxidation and improving insulin resistance; and low-calorie cranberry juice selectively decreasing biomarkers of lipid oxidation (oxidized LDL) and inflammation (adhesion molecules) in metabolic syndrome. Mechanistic studies further explain these observations as up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, reduction in renal oxidative damage, and inhibition of the activity of carbohydrate digestive enzymes or angiotensin-converting enzyme by these berries. These findings need confirmation in future studies with a focus on the effects of strawberry, blueberry, or cranberry intervention in clinical biomarkers and molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic syndrome.
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Many foods with growing evidence for cardiometabolic benefits (e.g., berries, nuts, extra-virgin olive oil) are rich in phenolics.
“Yet, many foods with growing evidence for cardiometabolic benefits – e.g., berries,301 nuts,145 extra-virgin olive oil34 – are rich in phenolics”
From Dietary and Policy Priorities for Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Obesity: A Comprehensive Review (2016) · cites this paper as [301]
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- Authors
- Basu, A., & Lyons, T. J.
- Affiliations
- Oklahoma State University (US)
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Basu, Arpita
- Venue
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2011-11-29
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 23
- Pages
- 5687-5692
- ISSN
- 0021-8561 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5118
- OpenAlex
- W2332844535
- Cited by
- 116
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Pomegranate: compositions and health benefits
- Keywords
- strawberry, blueberry, cranberry juice, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, malondialdehyde, adhesion molecules, blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipid oxidation, oxidized LDL, inflammation, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, renal oxidative damage
- MeSH terms
- Beverages, Cardiovascular Diseases, Humans, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Risk Factors, Triglycerides, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Metabolic Syndrome, Blueberry Plants, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Fragaria
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