Antioxidant May Benefit Heart Health

In this new study, investigators analyzed the effect of bilberries on markers of inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease. More than one in three Americans has some type of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. Furthermore, they report that 2,300 Americans die each day due to cardiovascular disease, which equates to one death every 38 seconds. Common cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina pectoris (pain in the chest), heart failure and stroke.

In this recent randomized-controlled trial, subjects with at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor were supplemented with bilberry juice daily or water for 4 weeks. Blood samples were then analyzed to determine the effect of bilberry on oxidant and inflammatory markers.

The study showed that bilberry supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory mediators including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-15, and monokine induced by interferon-gamma (MIG). These mediators are all regulated by nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-kappaB), which is a transcription factor that regulates the inflammatory responses. Transcription factors are signaling molecules that either increase or decrease the production of gene products that regulate the intensity of inflammation. Additionally, there were increased levels of the antioxidants quercetin and p-coumaric acid in the group supplemented with bilberry compared to the control group. The researchers also showed that the polyphenols found in bilberry (quercetin, epicatechin and resveratrol) inhibited activation of NF-kappaB, which reduced inflammation.

Thus, the researchers concluded, “These findings suggest that supplementation with bilberry polyphenols may modulate the inflammation processes.”

Reference:

Karlsen A, Paur I, Bøhn SK, Sakhi AK, Borge GI, Serafini M, Erlund I, Laake P, Tonstad S, Blomhoff R. Bilberry juice modulates plasma concentration of NF-kappaB related inflammatory markers in subjects at increased risk of CVD. Eur J Nutr. 2010 Feb 2. Published Online Ahead of Print.