Previous studies have shown that the intake of freeze-dried strawberry powder (FDSP) improves select markers of cardiovascular health in adults with cardiovascular risk factors; however, whether these improvements can be observed in at-risk adolescents is unknown. A randomised, double-blind, cross-over study enrolled twenty-five overweight or obese males, aged 14-18 years, to consume 50 g of a FDSP or a control powder, daily for 1 week. Before and after each test period, measures of microvascular function, plasma nitrate/nitrite, platelet reactivity and blood lipids were collected at baseline and acutely 1 h after FDSP intake. Acute plasma nitrate/nitrite levels increased 1 h after consuming the FDSP during Study Visit 1 before daily FDSP intake (P < 0·001) and during Study Visit 2 after 1 week of FDSP intake (P < 0·001) compared with control powder intake. As a group, fasting nitrate/nitrite levels did not significantly change after 1 week of control or FDSP intake. However, for those individuals where fasting nitrate levels increased after short-term FDSP intake compared with controls, an increase in reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) was observed (P = 0·014), whereas RHI was unchanged in those individuals who did not have a significant increase in nitrate (P = 0·396). Taken together, these data support the concept that strawberries can provide vascular health benefits to heavier adolescent males.

Previous studies have shown that the intake of freeze‐dried strawberry powder (FDSP) improves select markers of cardiovascular health in at risk individuals; whether these improvements can be observed in adolescents is unknown. A randomized, double‐blind, crossover study enrolled 25 overweight or obese males, ages 14–18 years, to consume 50g of FDSP or an isocaloric control powder, daily for 1 week. Before and after each test period, measures of microvascular function, plasma nitrate/nitrite, and platelet reactivity were collected at baseline and 1 hour after FDSP intake. After 1 week of FDSP intake, an acute increase in the Framingham reactive hyperemia index (fRHI) was observed (p < 0.03). Plasma nitrate/nitrite levels significantly increased 1 hour after consuming the FDSP on the first study day prior to daily FDSP intake (p < 0.001) and during the second visit after one week of FDSP intake (p < 0.001). This increase in plasma nitrate levels was not observed with control powder intake. Taken together, the data from the present study supports the concept that strawberries can provide vascular health benefits to overweight and obese adolescent males.Support or Funding InformationResearch funding was provided in part by the California Strawberry Commission; USDA NIFA National Needs Graduate Fellowship (Djurica); and Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant (Holt).

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