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Effects of a Dietary Strawberry Powder on Parameters of Vascular Health in Adolescent Males
Author(s) -
Holt Roberta R,
Djurica Dragana,
Ren Jingyan,
Hackman Robert M,
Keen Carl L
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.lb368
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , nitrite , crossover study , nitrate , body mass index , zoology , biology , placebo , ecology , alternative medicine , pathology
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 Information Research 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).