Enhancing the cardiovascular protective effects of a healthy dietary pattern with wolfberry (Lycium barbarum): A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background The consumption of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum), a rich source of carotenoids and bioactive polysaccharides, may serve as a potential dietary strategy for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management although limited studies examined its effects as whole fruits. Objectives To investigate the impact of wolfberry consumption as part of a healthy dietary pattern on vascular health-related outcomes and classical CVD risk factors in middle-aged and older adults in Singapore. Methods This is a 16-week, parallel design, randomized controlled trial. All participants (n = 40) received dietary counselling to follow healthy dietary pattern recommendations with the wolfberry group given additional instructions to cook and consume 15 g/d whole, dried wolfberry with their main meals. Biomarkers of vascular function (flow-mediated dilation, plasma total nitrate/nitrite, endothelin-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1), vascular structure (carotid intima-media thickness) and vascular regeneration (endothelial progenitor cell count, plasma angiopoietin 1 and angiopoietin 2), were assessed at baseline and postintervention. Serum lipid−lipoproteins and blood pressure were evaluated every 4 weeks. Results All participants showed an improved compliance toward the healthy dietary pattern. This was coupled with marked rises in total nitrate/nitrite concentrations (mean change wolfberry: 3.92 ± 1.73 nmol/mL; control: 5.01 ± 2.55 nmol/L) and reductions in endothelin-1 concentrations (wolfberry: -0.19 ± 0.06 pg/mL; control: -0.15 ± 0.08 pg/mL). Compared with the control which depicted no changes from baseline, the wolfberry group had a significantly higher HDL cholesterol (0.08 ± 0.04 mmol/L), as well as lower Framingham predicted long-term CVD risk (-0.8 ± 0.5%) and vascular age (-1.9 ± 1.0 y) postintervention. No differences were observed in the other vascular health-related outcomes. Conclusions In middle-aged and older adults, adherence to a healthy dietary pattern improves vascular tone. Incorporating wolfberry to the diet further improves blood lipid−lipoprotein profile and may lower long-term CVD risk. This study was registered at clinicatrials.gov as NCT03535844.

Health Benefits and Applications of Goji Berries in Functional Food Products Development: A Review

“…Due to limited evidence on the health effects of whole dried fruits, considering possible synergism among bioactive compounds, Toh et al (2021) investigated the effects of healthy dietary patterns, either with or without whole dried wolfberry (15 g/d), in middle-aged and older adults. They demonstrated that adherence to a healthy dietary pattern based on whole grains, fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and non-processed meats improves vascular tone, while incorporating goji berry into the diet further improves the blood lipid-lipoprotein profile, and may lower long-term cardiovascular risk [ 94 ]. In addition, they observed an inverse association between the changes in plasma zeaxanthin and plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α.…”

The Roles of Carotenoid Consumption and Bioavailability in Cardiovascular Health

“…However, this beneficial effect was only observed with long-term tomato consumption (at least one week) but not with acute feeding. In addition, no favorable effect on FMD was found from consuming Goji berry, which is rich in zeaxanthin [ 85 ].…”

“…On the contrary, 12 months of astaxanthin supplementation failed to result in a significant improvement in IMT with healthy participants [ 91 ]. Moreover, Toh et al [ 85 ] reported no significant reduction in IMT after consuming Goji berry for 16 weeks in relatively healthy middle-aged and older adults. This was possibly because subjects who were diagnosed with subclinical atherosclerosis had an elevated IMT at baseline compared with healthy subjects.…”

Characteristics and Quality Analysis of Radio Frequency-Hot Air Combined Segmented Drying of Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)

“…The length of a fresh wolfberry is 1–2 cm and the annual production can reach 0.26 million tons; most of them are consumed and applicated after being dried [ 2 , 3 ]. Pharmacological studies have shown that polysaccharides, total phenols, total flavonoids, and other functional compounds in drying-processed wolfberries are immune-supportive, anti-tumorigenic, and have anti-aging effects [ 4 , 5 ]. The moisture content of ripe, fresh wolfberry fruit can reach more than 80%, and the fruit has a high sugar content and is sensitive to microbial deterioration, causing it to rot easily during harvest and storage [ 6 ].…”