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. 2022 Dec 1;17(12):e0275132.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275132. eCollection 2022.

Acute effect of blueberry intake on vascular function in older subjects: Study protocol for a randomized, controlled, crossover trial

Cristian Del Bo'  1 , Massimiliano Tucci  1 , Daniela Martini  1 , Mirko Marino  1 , Simona Bertoli  1   2 , Alberto Battezzati  1   2 , Marisa Porrini  1 , Patrizia Riso  1
Affiliations

Acute effect of blueberry intake on vascular function in older subjects: Study protocol for a randomized, controlled, crossover trial

Cristian Del Bo' et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Aging is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease which is often accompanied by a decline in vascular health and function. Current evidence suggests that berries may have a potential role in the modulation of vascular function, but dietary interventions are still needed to confirm findings, especially in older subjects. In the context of the MIND FoodS HUB project, this study aims to investigate the effect of a single serving of blueberry (250 g of blueberry versus a control product) in a group of older subjects (≥ 60y) through a randomized, controlled, cross-over dietary intervention trial. Specifically, the study evaluates the absorption kinetics of bioactives following the blueberries intake and the effects on markers related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular function analyzed at different time points. By considering a drop-out rate estimate of 25%, at least 20 subjects will be recruited in the study. The study will provide evidence to support the potential beneficial effects of blueberry and its bioactive compounds on vascular function in a group of population more susceptible to vascular dysfunction and to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the study will contribute the analysis of several metabolic and functional markers that can support the biological plausibility of the results obtained. Finally, the trial will provide data on the absorption and metabolism of blueberry bioactives which will be used to study their association with the different markers under study. Trail registration: The trial is registered at ISRCTN (http://isrctn.com/ISRCTN18262533); May 7, 2021.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Schedule of enrollment, interventions, and assessment: Recommendations for interventional trials (SPIRIT).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Schematic representation of the study design for the evaluation of blueberry bioactive absorption and of different metabolic/functional markers (phase 1).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Schematic representation of the study design for the evaluation of the effects of intervention on vascular function markers (phase 2).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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