Influence of Freeze Dried Strawberry Consumption on Gut Microbiota and Cardiovascular Health.

A randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover design will compare the short-term (two and four week) response to FDSP intake compared to an isocaloric control powder in overweight and obese adults. Twenty overweight or obese male or postmenopausal females (40-65 years of age) will be randomized to consume 39 g of FDSP or a control powder for four weeks in a crossover design with a four week washout period. Changes in stool microbial communities and microbial metabolites will be assessed, and examined for their potential influence on microvascular function.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or postmenopausal female: 40-65 years
• Women: lack of menses for at least two years.
• Subject is willing and able to comply with the study protocols.
• Subject is willing to participate in all study procedures
• BMI 25.0 - 35 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2
• Dislike or allergy for strawberries or strawberry products
• Self-reported use of daily anticoagulation agents including aspirin, NSAIDs
• Vegan, Vegetarians, food faddists or those consuming a non-traditional diet
• Fruit consumption ≥ 2 cups/day
• Regular consumption of strawberries (2-3 cups/week)
• Vegetable consumption ≥ 3 cups/day for females
• Fatty Fish ≥ 3 times/week
• Coffee/tea ≥ 3 cups/day
• Dark chocolate ≥ 3 oz/day
• Self-reported restriction of physical activity due to a chronic health condition
• Self-reported chronic/routine high intensity exercise
• Self-reported diabetes
• Blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg
• Self-reported renal or liver disease
• Self-reported heart disease, which includes cardiovascular events and stroke
• Inability to properly place or wear the PAT probes or abnormal measurements on pre- screening PAT
• Abnormal Metabolic or CBC panels (laboratory values outside the reference range) if determined to be clinically significant by the study physician.
• Self-reported cancer within past 5 years
• Self-reported malabsorption
• Currently taking prescription drugs or supplements.
• Use of multi-vitamin and mineral other than a general formula of vitamins and minerals that meet the RDA
• Not willing to stop any supplement use, including herbal, plant or botanical, fish oil, oil supplements a month prior to study enrollment.
• Indications of substance or alcohol abuse within the last 3 years
• Screening LDL ≥ 190 mg/dl for those who have 0-1 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol (i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL].
• Screening LDL ≥ 160 mg/dl for those who have 2 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol [i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL]. (using NCEP calculator http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp);
• Screening LDL ≥ 130 mg/dl for those who have 2 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol [i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL], and a Framingham 10-year Risk Score 10-20% (using NCEP calculator http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp).
• Current enrollee in a clinical research study.