The Water-Blueberry Study

Participants with at leat one elevated cardiovacsular risk factor, as defined as systolic blood pressure between 140 and 165 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 105 mmHg, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ≥3.4 mmol/L, total/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio >4 or smoking a minimum of 3 cigarettes daily.

Subjects were randomized to two groups, where the blueberry group were supplemented with 1 L blueberry juice per day for four weeks. The control group consumed an equal amount of water.

Clinical markers, as well as biomarkers of antioxidant status, oxidative stress status and inflammation were measured in blood samples before amd after the intervention period.

Inclusion criteria

• 30-70 years for men and 45-70 years or at least 12 months postmenopausal for women
• at least one elevated cardiovascular risk factor, defined as systolic blood pressure between 140 and 165 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 105 mmHg, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ≥3.4 mmol/L, total/high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio >4 or smoking a minimum of 3 cigarettes daily.

Exclusion criteria

• clinically recognized chronic diseases as impaired renal function, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, liver or gastrointestinal disease or cancer within the last 5 years
• use of lipid-lowering drugs, diuretics or hormone replacement therapy for women
• Subjects with a body-mass index ≥31
• with a alcohol consumption above 3 units/day for men and 1 unit/day for women
• blood donation within the last six months