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Berry consumption has beneficial effects on blood pressure. Intestinal microbiota transform berry phytochemicals into more bioactive forms. Thus, we performed a systematic review of randomized clinical trials to determine whether berry polyphenols in foods, extracts or supplements have effects on both the profile of gut microbiota and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in humans. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CAB Abstracts (EBSCOhost) were searched for randomized clinical trials in humans published from 1 January 2011 to 29 October 2021. Search results were imported into Covidence for screening and data extraction by two blinded reviewers, who also performed bias assessment independently. The literature search identified 216 publications; after duplicates were removed, 168 publications were screened with 12 full-text publications assessed for eligibility. Ultimately three randomized clinical trials in humans met the eligibility criteria. One randomized clinical trial showed a low risk of bias while the other two randomized clinical trials included low, high or unclear risk of bias. Together the randomized clinical trials showed that berry consumption (Aronia berry, strawberries, raspberries, cloudberries and bilberries) for 8–12 weeks had no significant effect on both blood pressure and the gut microbiota. More randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the effects of berry consumption on the profile of gut microbiota and blood pressure in humans.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of morning vs. evening consumption of turmeric on urine markers of oxidative stress. The hypothesis stated that turmeric's action to modulate transcription of diurnally regulated genes coding for oxidative defense proteins would be influenced by the timing of turmeric consumption. METHODS: Participants prepared for each of four lab visits by consuming a low-antioxidant diet for two days and fasting for 12 hours. After providing a baseline urine sample, participants consumed one of two test meals (5 g turmeric + 180 ml egg white or egg white alone) at one of two clock times (morning or evening). A 1-week washout separated each visit. Urine was collected in the lab at 1 hour post-meal and at home for the following 5 hours. Urine biomarkers of oxidative stress were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; values were normalized to urine creatinine concentration. General Linear Models were used to predict biomarker levels over timepoints by turmeric intake and clock time. RESULTS: Participant (n = 4, 3 male) body mass index and age (median and range) were 33.3 (31.4–34.0) and 60.5 y (53–63). Urine 8-isoprostane concentration was significantly higher following consumption of the turmeric vs. control meal and after the 2-4-hour compared to 0-2-hour post-meal timepoint. The turmeric meal was not associated with urine malondialdehyde level. There was no significant interaction between turmeric consumption and clock time on either biomarker level. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming turmeric at morning vs. evening did not differentially affect urine markers of oxidative stress. Studies of larger cohorts with measurements of oxidative stress markers over 24 hours would show whether these pilot results are generalizable. FUNDING SOURCES: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, McCormick Science Institute Research Award; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Medical Nutrition Practice Group.

OBJECTIVES: IC/BPS is characterized by pelvic pain, pressure, or discomfort in the bladder and pelvic area coupled with urinary frequency and urgency. The cause is unknown. Dietary intake appears to exacerbate IC/BPS symptoms for many patients; however, the association is not well understood. The potential role of saturated fat and other inflammatory dietary components in provoking IC/BPS symptoms will be explored. Animal studies associate high dietary intake of saturated fats with activation of toll-like receptor (TLR4) cell signaling and pro-inflammatory responses. Saturated free fatty acids were linked to changes in the bladder on a cellular level. The goal of the AID-IC study is to investigate the efficacy of an anti-inflammatory diet (limits lipid intake and increases antioxidant intake) on symptom severity. METHODS: In a 22-week, crossover study, women with IC/BPS will be randomized into two groups. Group one will receive 10 weeks of a therapeutic anti-inflammatory diet that eliminates foods commonly bothersome for those with this condition; 5 days/week prepared, home-delivered meals were provided. Group 2 will receive counseling from a dietitian on standard IC/BPS dietary recommendations (control diet). After a two-week washout period, dietary interventions for the two groups will be switched. Primary outcomes include changes in inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-alpha and IL-1) and scores on three validated symptom severity surveys. RESULTS: We hypothesize that an anti-inflammatory diet that excludes foods commonly bothersome for individuals with IC/BPS will help manage symptomology for these patients. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the severity of symptoms will be mediated by the reduction of pro-inflammatory responses associated with the influence of a diet low in saturated fats and high in anti-inflammatory dietary components. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of managing IC/BPS symptoms by influencing inflammatory activity via restricting lipid intake and increasing antioxidant-rich foods has not previously been investigated. The findings may offer preliminary data on a cost-effective, noninvasive therapy. FUNDING SOURCES: Mountain West Clinical & Translational Research Infrastructure Network (National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH).

Nutrition is a primary modifiable determinant of chronic noncommunicable disease, including osteoporosis. An etiology of osteoporosis is the stimulation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dietary polyphenols and probiotics demonstrate protective effects on bone that are associated with reduced ROS formation and suppressed osteoclast activity. This study tested the effect of dietary enrichment with powdered whole grape and probiotics (composed of equal parts Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. breve, Lactobacillus casei, L. plantarum, and L. bulgaricus) on bone microarchitecture in a mouse model of age-related osteoporosis. Groups (n = 7 each) of 10-month-old male mice were fed one of six diets for 6 months: 10% grape powder with sugar corrected to 20%; 20% grape powder; 1% probiotic with sugar corrected to 20%; 10% grape powder + 1% probiotic with sugar corrected to 20%; 20% grape powder + 1% probiotic; 20% sugar control. Femur, tibia and 4th lumbar vertebrae from 10-month-old mice served as comparator baseline samples. Bone microarchitecture was measured by micro-computed tomography and compared across diet groups using analysis of variance. Aging exerted a significant effect on tibia metaphysis trabecular bone, with baseline 10-month-old mice having significantly higher bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) and trabecular number measurements and lower trabecular spacing measurements than all 16-month-old groups (p < 0.001). Neither grape nor probiotic enrichment significantly improved bone microarchitecture during aging compared to control diet. The combination of 20% grape + 1% probiotic exerted detrimental effects on tibia metaphysis BV/TV compared to 10% grape + 1% probiotic, and trabecular number and trabecular spacing compared to 10% grape + 1% probiotic, 1% probiotic and control groups (p < 0.05). Femur metaphysis trabecular bone displayed less pronounced aging effects than tibia bone, but also showed detrimental effects of the 20% grape + 1% probiotic vs. most other diets for BV/TV, trabecular number, trabecular spacing and trabecular pattern factor (p < 0.05). Tibia and femur diaphysis cortical bone (cortical wall thickness and medullary area) displayed neither aging nor diet effects (p > 0.05). Vertebrae bone showed age-related deterioration in trabecular thickness and trabecular spacing and a trend toward preservation of trabecular thickness by grape and/or probiotic enrichment (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate no benefit to bone of combined compared to independent supplementation with probiotics or whole grape powder and even suggest an interference of co-ingestion.

Iron status is associated with cognitive performance and intervention trials show that iron supplementation improves mental function in iron-deficient adults. However, no studies have tested the efficacy of naturally iron-rich food in this context. This investigation measured the hematologic and cognitive responses to moderate beef consumption in young women. Participants (n = 43; age 21.1 ± 0.4 years) were randomly assigned to a beef or non-beef protein lunch group [3-oz (85 g), 3 times weekly] for 16 weeks. Blood was sampled at baseline, and weeks 8 and 16, and cognitive performance was measured at baseline and week 16. Body iron increased in both lunch groups (p < 0.0001), with greater improvement demonstrated in women with lower baseline body iron (p < 0.0001). Body iron had significant beneficial effects on spatial working memory and planning speed (p < 0.05), and ferritin responders (n = 17) vs. non-responders (n = 26) showed significantly greater improvements in planning speed, spatial working memory strategy, and attention (p < 0.05). Lunch group had neither significant interactions with iron status nor consistent main effects on test performance. These findings support a relationship between iron status and cognition, but do not show a particular benefit of beef over non-beef protein consumption on either measure in young women.