Blueberry intake elevates post-exercise anti-inflammatory oxylipins: a randomized trial

Abstract

This study determined if 18 days of supplementation with blueberries (BL) compared to placebo (PL) could mitigate muscle soreness and damage and improve inflammation resolution in untrained adults (n = 49, ages 18–50 years) after engaging in a 90-min bout of “weekend warrior” eccentric exercise. The BL freeze dried supplement provided 1 cup of fresh blueberries per day equivalent with 805 mg/day total phenolics and 280 mg/day anthocyanins. Urine levels of eight BL gut-derived phenolics increased after 14- and 18-days supplementation with 83% higher concentrations in BL vs. PL (p < 0.001). The 90-min exercise bout caused significant muscle soreness and damage during 4d of recovery and a decrease in exercise performance with no significant differences between PL and BL. Plasma oxylipins were identified (n = 76) and grouped by fatty acid substrates and enzyme systems. Linoleic acid (LA) oxylipins generated from cytochrome P450 (CYP) (9,10-, 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acids) (diHOMEs) were lower in BL vs. PL (treatment effect, p = 0.051). A compositive variable of 9 plasma hydroxydocosahexaenoic acids (HDoHEs) generated from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) and lipoxygenase (LOX) was significantly higher in BL vs. PL (treatment effect, p = 0.008). The composite variable of plasma 14-HDoHE, 17-HDoHE, and the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-derived oxylipin 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE) (specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators, SPM, intermediates) was significantly higher in BL vs PL (treatment effect, p = 0.014). Pearson correlations showed positive relationships between post-exercise DHA-LOX HDoHEs and SPM intermediates with urine blueberry gut-derived phenolics (r = 0.324, p = 0.023, and r = 0.349, p = 0.015, respectively). These data indicate that 18d intake of 1 cup/day blueberries compared to PL was linked to a reduction in pro-inflammatory diHOMES and sustained elevations in DHA- and EPA-derived anti-inflammatory oxylipins in response to a 90-min bout of unaccustomed exercise by untrained adults.

Effects of Vaccinium berries (blueberries, cranberries and bilberries) on oxidative stress, inflammation, exercise performance, and recovery – a systematic review

“…All three studies that assessed CK levels reported a large rise after exercise, however, no significant between-group differences were found. 59,63,64 Serum troponin-T increased after a running race but there were no significant differences between groups. 63 No significant group differences in creatinine, free/total carnitine, and myoglobin were found.…”

“…Four studies evaluated men only, 55–58 one study evaluated women only, 59 four studies evaluated both, 60–63 and four did not specify gender. 64–67 A total of 287 participants were studied, 58 of which were women and 132 were men; the gender of 98 participants was not disclosed. The studies analysed the effects of supplementation after various types of trials such as running, cycling, jumping, rowing, and using exercise machines.…”

“…Among the included studies, three studies were randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trials; 61,66,67 three studies were randomised, double-blind, group-controlled parallel intervention trials; 60,64,66 one study was a randomized crossover trial; 59 one study was a randomised, controlled, crossover trial; 63 one study was a non-randomised, group controlled, crossover trial; 55 and one study was a non-randomised, quasi-experimental, free-living trial. 56 The participants of all the studies were healthy adults and this included runners ( n = 34), 61,66,67 cyclists ( n = 59), 60 aerobic recreational athletes ( n = 21), 56,59 trained subjects in running and other forms of aerobic exercise ( n = 25), 65 and healthy adults ( n = 86).…”

“…56 The participants of all the studies were healthy adults and this included runners ( n = 34), 61,66,67 cyclists ( n = 59), 60 aerobic recreational athletes ( n = 21), 56,59 trained subjects in running and other forms of aerobic exercise ( n = 25), 65 and healthy adults ( n = 86). 55,63,64 The total supplementation duration ranged from two days to eight weeks. Supplementation was given daily in seven of the studies, twice daily in one study, and three times a day in the remaining studies.…”

“…Supplementation was given daily in seven of the studies, twice daily in one study, and three times a day in the remaining studies. Five studies used freeze-dried blueberry powder 56,61,64,67 and fresh blueberries were used in the remaining studies. 55,59,60,63,65,66 The dosage in the blueberry powder ranged from 24–72 g per day, while the range varied from 150 to 625 g per day in the studies with fresh blueberries.…”