This is a research study about the effects of blueberries on the health of children who do not eat much fruits and vegetables. By doing this study, we hope to find out what nutrients from blueberries appear in the blood and urine of the child
This is a double blinded randomized control trial aiming to characterize the profile of polyphenol-derived metabolites in plasma and urine for children ages 11-12 years supplemented short term with wild blueberry powder. The study will assess if a short-term supplementation (5 days) with wild blueberry powder impacts immune responses as well as markers for cardiovascular and bone health. Up to 44 children will be recruited. The participants will attend three visits at Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
44
Foods that contain wild blueberry supplement to deliver up to 30 grams of blueberry powder
Foods that do not contain the blueberry powder but a placebo
Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Phenolic Acid Metabolites Measured in Plasma and Urine After Dietary Intervention
Fasting Blood and urine were collected at visit two and three following an overnight fasting. At visit three, children consumed a single dose of the study product and plasma and urine were collected
Time frame: Measurements were conducted hourly for 5 hours; the cumulative number of metabolites characterized over the 5 hours is reported
Number and Percentage of Lymphocytes Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4), Lymphocytes Cluster of Differentiation 8 (CD8) and Natural Killer (NK) Cells
Mitogen stimulated blood will be stained with combinations of fluorochrome-labeled antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry. Absolute and relative number of CD4, lymphocytes CD8 and natural killer (NK) will be compared between groups.
Time frame: up to 2 weeks
T-lymphocyte Responsiveness to Immune Stressors
Blood will be collected following an overnight fast after 5 days on the intervention. Whole blood will be cultured and cells stressed with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce cytokine release from immune cells. Cytokines will be assayed using electrochemiluminescence based detection platform with multiplexed immunoassays, and their levels compared between study groups.
Time frame: up to 2 weeks
Endothelial Function by Brachial Artery Flow Mediated Dilation
Endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery in the fasting state was measured using high resolution ultrasound at enrollment and after 5 days on the intervention. This technology uses sound waves (ultrasound) to visualize the diameter of the brachial artery. A baseline image of the brachial artery will be recorded at rest. A blood pressure cuff will be placed around the lower arm and the cuff will be inflated to 50 mmHg above systolic pressure for 5 minutes, followed by rapid deflation of the cuff. The diameter of the brachial artery will be measured from ultrasound images captured throughout the 8 minute recording protocol. The percent change in the brachial artery will be compared between and within groups.
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Time frame: up to 2 weeks