Effects of Blueberries in Older Adults

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center61 enrolled

Overview

This randomized, parallel-design trial will evaluate specific clinical and physiological effects of whole blueberries in adults 70 years of age or older.

Although much is already known about the benefits of a healthy diet for the prevention of a wide range of chronic diseases, including the particular health benefits of anthocyanin-rich foods, these effects have been examined with much less frequency in older adults, who tend to be excluded from formal feeding studies and, until recently, have represented a small proportion of ongoing cohort studies. The proposed study will randomize approximately 46 women and 24 men, representative of the proportion of elderly women and men in the U.S. to consume either: 1. 1 cup of frozen blueberries daily for 12 weeks or 2. 2-3 dried dates daily for 12 weeks. Dates were chosen as a control food because they contain negligible polyphenols, proportionately high caloric content, and a convenient form for storage. After the 12-week intervention, researchers will repeat in-person study assessments from baseline.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Blood Pressure Orthostatic Hypotension Vascular Diseases

Interventions

Blueberry ConsumptionBEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 1 cup of frozen blueberries daily for the 12 weeks of the intervention. The study dietitian will provide educational materials and monitor compliance through weekly check-ins. Participants will be instructed to avoid all other high-anthocyanin foods including other berries, cherries, currants, cabbage, red wine, and eggplant.

Dried Date ConsumptionBEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 2-3 dried dates daily for the 12 weeks of the intervention, an isocaloric portion of fruit compared to the blueberry group. The study dietitian will provide educational materials and monitor compliance through weekly check-ins. Participants will be instructed to avoid all other high-anthocyanin foods including blueberries, other berries, cherries, currants, cabbage, red wine, and eggplant.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 70 YearsMax age: 100 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 70 years old * Independent-living Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiovascular event or procedure within 3 months of randomization * AHA Class III-IV heart failure * Intolerance or allergy to blueberries or dates * History of gastric bypass surgery * Any planned hospitalization or vacation in the ensuing 4 months * Any current cancer treatment * End-stage renal disease * Any organ transplant * Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c \>9% * Systolic blood pressure \>200 mmHg * Inability to provide personal informed consent (e.g. cognitive impairment) * Investigator concern

Locations (2)

Center Communities of Brookline (CCB)

Brookline, Massachusetts, United States

NewBridge on the Charles

Dedham, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

24-hour wake-time ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Time frame: 12 weeks after randomization

Orthostatic Hypotension

Supine and standing blood pressure

Time frame: 12-weeks after randomization

Lower Extremity Functioning

Short Physical Performance Battery

Time frame: 12 weeks after randomization

Cognition

Cogstate Brief Battery of four core cognitive domains: processing speed, attention, visual learning, and working memory

Time frame: 12 weeks after randomization

Secondary Outcomes

Number of Self-Reported Falls

Investigators will administer the Fall Follow-Up Questionnaire from the Study to Understand Fall Reduction and Vitamin D in You (STURDY) to participants that self-report falls to record details on each fall.

Time frame: Weekly for 12 weeks between baseline and follow-up

Grip Strength

Bilateral grip strength measured by a dynamometer

Time frame: 12 weeks after randomization

Sleep

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The 19 self-rated items are combined to form 7 "component" scores, each of which has a range of 0-3 points. In all cases, a score of "0" indicates no difficulty, while a score of "3" indicates severe difficulty. The 7 component scores are then added to yield one "global score", with a range of 0-21 points, "0" indicating no difficulty and "21" indicated severe difficulties in all sleep areas.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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