Wild blueberries are rich sources of polyphenols such as anthocyanins capable of counteracting oxidative stress, influencing vasomotor tone and modulating gene expression associated with disease processes such as cardiovascular disease

Campolo, J.

De Maria, R.

Del Bo, C.

Klimis-Zacas, D.

Loft, S.

Martini, D.

Moller, P.

Porrini, M.

Riso, P.

Vendrame, S.

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SINU: “Nutrizione e Rischio Cardiovascolare” Annual Meeting, Napoli, 12th-13th
 
 October, 2011. 
Effect of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) consumption on markers of oxidative stress and endothelial 
function in subjects with risk factors for cardiovascular disease  
 
C. Del Bo’,1 P. Riso1, D. Klimis-Zacas2, D. Martini1, J. Campolo3, S. Vendrame1,2, P. Moller4, S. Loft4, R. De 
Maria3 and M. Porrini
 
1 
1Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Sezione 
Nutrizione, Milan, Italy. 
2Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Maine, Orono, USA. 
3Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica CNR, Dipartimento Cardiovascolare, Ospedale Niguarda Cà Grande, Milan, Italy. 
4
 
Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 
 
Background: Wild blueberries (WB) (Vaccinium angustifolium) are rich sources of polyphenols such as anthocyanins 
(ACNs) capable of counteracting oxidative stress,  influencing vasomotor tone and modulating gene expression 
associated with disease processes such as cardiovascular disease (CVD).   
Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of consumption of a WB product on lipid profiles, 
markers of oxidative stress (endogenous and oxidatively-induced DNA damage in mononuclear cells), soluble vascular 
adhesion molecule 1 (s-VCAM-1) and nitric oxide concentration and endothelium mediated changes in peripheral 
arterial tone in subjects with at least one risk factor for CVD.  
Methods: Twenty male volunteers were recruited and randomized in a cross-over design. Subjects received a WB drink 
(25 g of lyophilised WB powder corresponding to 148 g of raw fruits) providing 375 mg of ACNs or a placebo drink 
(without ACNs) for 6 weeks each. A six week wash-out period was scheduled. At the beginning and at the end of each 
treatment, blood samples were collected. Serum lipid and cholesterol profiles were measured by validated laboratory 
methods. The resistance to H2O2
Results and Conclusion: Six weeks of WB drink significantly reduced the levels of H
-induced DNA damage and endogenously oxidized DNA bases (formamidopyrimidine 
DNA glycosilase (FPG) sensitive sites) were evaluated in blood mononuclear cells by the comet assay. Peripheral 
arterial function was assessed by using finger plethysmography (Endo-PAT2000) while plasma nitric oxide and s-
VCAM-1 analysis was performed by commercial kits. All variables were examined by a two way ANOVA for repeated 
measures.     
2O2
 
-induced DNA damage (from 
45.8 ± 7.9% to 37.2 ± 9.1%, p≤0.01) and the levels of endogenously oxidized DNA bases (from 12.5 ± 5.6% vs 9.6 ± 
3.5%, p≤0.01), while no effect was found after PL drink. No significant difference was observed in the total group for 
the peripheral arterial tone even though more than half of the subjects had an improvement, following the intervention 
with the WB drink. No statistically significant difference was also observed for lipid profile, nitric oxide and s-VCAM-
1 concentrations. Considering the high inter-individual variation observed in endothelial function response, further 
studies may be necessary to demonstrate an effect. 
 
 
This study was supported by a grant of Cariplo Foundation (Rif. Pratica 2007.5810) 
 
 
Cristian Del Bo’ 
DiSTAM – Sezione Nutrizione  
Università degli Studi di Milano 
via G. Celoria 2 
20133 Milano 
 
cristian.delbo@unimi.it 
tel. +390250316728 
fax +390250316721 
cell. +393470169959 
 
 
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"Nutrizione e Rischio Cardiovascolare"

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"Nutrizione e Rischio Cardiovascolare"

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