Blueberry intervention improves vascular reactivity and lowers blood pressure in high-fat-, high-cholesterol-fed rats

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that intake of flavonoid-containing foods may exert cardiovascular benefits in human subjects. We have investigated the effects of a 10-week blueberry (BB) supplementation on blood pressure (BP) and vascular reactivity in rats fed a highfat/high-cholesterol diet, known to induce endothelial dysfunction. Rats were randomly assigned to follow a control chow diet, a chow diet supplemented with 2 % (w/w) BB, a high-fat diet (10 % lard; 0·5 % cholesterol) or the high fat plus BB for 10 weeks. Rats supplemented with BB showed significant reductions in systolic BP (SBP) of 11 and 14 %, at weeks 8 and 10, respectively, relative to rats fed the control chow diet (week 8 SBP: 107·5 (SEM 4·7) v. 122·2 (SEM 2·1) mmHg, P¼0·018; week 10 SBP: 115·0 (SEM 3·1) v. 132·7 (SEM 1·5) mmHg, P, 0·0001). Furthermore, SBP was reduced by 14 % in rats fed with the high fat plus 2 % BB diet at week 10, compared to those on the high-fat diet only (SBP: 118·2 (SEM 3·6) v. 139·5 (SEM 4·5) mmHg, P,0·0001). Aortas harvested from BB-fed animals exhibited significantly reduced contractile responses (to L-phenylephrine) compared to those fed the control chow or high-fat diets. Furthermore, in rats fed with high fat supplemented with BB, aorta relaxation was significantly greater in response to acetylcholine compared to animals fed with the fat diet. These data suggest that BB consumption can lower BP and improve endothelial dysfunction induced by a high fat, high cholesterol containing diet.

Wild blueberry consumption affects aortic vascular function in the obese Zucker rat

“…Enhanced acetylcholine (Ach)-induced vasorelaxation was observed in young SHRs fed an 8% WB diet for 7 weeks . Reduced Phe-induced vasoconstriction and enhanced Ach-induced vasorelaxation has also been reported with a 2% highbush blueberry diet for 10 weeks in Wistar rats fed a high fat and cholesterol diet to induce endothelial dysfunction (Rodriguez-Mateos et al 2013).…”

Oral and faecal microbiota in volunteers with hypertension in a double blind, randomised placebo controlled trial with probiotics and fermented bilberries

“…It has previously been reported in human studies that consumption of antioxidant-rich blueberries could lower blood pressure (Basu et al, 2010;Cassidy et al, 2011;Rodriguez-Mateos et al, 2013). Furthermore, as described in the animal study by Xu et al (2013) the fermentation of bilberries by L. plantarum DSM 15313 resulted in the production of new phenolic compounds (i.e.…”

Fruits for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

“…The effects of supplementation with blueberry for 10 weeks on endothelial function and BP were studied in rats fed a high-fat diet. The study showed that blueberry supplementation lowered SBP by 14% and improved endothelial dysfunction and aorta relaxation in response to acetylcholine [70]. Furthermore, a study evaluated the potential protective effects of seven phenolic acids, identified as metabolites of blueberry, on murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7.…”