Blueberry Supplementation Influences the Gut Microbiota, Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rats.

Background: Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked to obesity-associated chronic inflammation. Microbiota manipulation may therefore affect obesity-related comorbidities. Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory properties and may alter the gut microbiota. Objective: We hypothesized that blueberry supplementation would alter the gut microbiota, reduce systemic inflammation, and improve insulin resistance in high-fat (HF)-diet-fed rats. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats (260-270 g; n = 8/group) were fed low-fat (LF; 10% fat), HF (45% fat), or HF with 10% by weight blueberry powder (HF_BB) diets for 8 wk. LF rats were fed ad libitum, whereas HF and HF_BB rats were pair-fed with diets matched for fiber and sugar contents. Glucose tolerance, microbiota composition (16S ribosomal RNA sequencing), intestinal integrity [villus height, gene expression of mucin 2 (Muc2) and ß-defensin 2 (Defb2)], and inflammation (gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines) were assessed. Results: Blueberry altered microbiota composition with an increase in Gammaproteobacteria abundance (P < 0.001) compared with LF and HF rats. HF feeding led to an ∼15% decrease in ileal villus height compared with LF rats (P < 0.05), which was restored by blueberry supplementation. Ileal gene expression of Muc2 was ∼150% higher in HF_BB rats compared with HF rats (P < 0.05), with expression in the LF group not being different from that in either the HF or HF_BB groups. Tumor necrosis factor α (Tnfa) and interleukin 1ß (Il1b) gene expression in visceral fat was increased by HF feeding when compared with the LF group (by 300% and 500%, respectively; P < 0.05) and normalized by blueberry supplementation. Finally, blueberry improved markers of insulin sensitivity. Hepatic insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) phosphorylation at serine 307:IRS1 ratio was ∼35% higher in HF rats compared with LF rats (P < 0.05) and HF_BB rats. Conclusion: In HF-diet-fed male rats, blueberry supplementation led to compositional changes in the gut microbiota associated with improvements in systemic inflammation and insulin signaling.

Effect of soy isoflavone supplementation on menopausal quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of soy isoflavone supplementation on quality of life in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 24-month trial was conducted to assess the effect of 80 or 120 mg of daily aglycone hypocotyl soy isoflavone supplementation on quality of life in 403 postmenopausal women using a validated Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire. RESULTS: Menopause-Specific Quality of Life domain scores at 1 year and 2 years were similar to baseline. There were no differences in domain scores among treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Soy isoflavone supplementation offers no benefit to quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Clinical outcomes of a 2-y soy isoflavone supplementation in menopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Soy isoflavones are naturally occurring phytochemicals with weak estrogenic cellular effects. Despite numerous clinical trials of short-term isoflavone supplementation, there is a paucity of data regarding longer-term outcomes and safety. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of soy hypocotyl isoflavone supplementation in healthy menopausal women as a secondary outcome of a trial on bone health. DESIGN: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 24-mo trial was conducted to assess the effects of daily supplementation with 80 or 120 mg aglycone equivalent soy hypocotyl isoflavones plus calcium and vitamin D on the health of 403 postmenopausal women. At baseline and after 1 and 2 y, clinical blood chemistry values were measured and a well-woman examination was conducted, which included a mammogram and a Papanicolaou test. A cohort also underwent transvaginal ultrasound measurements to assess endometrial thickness and fibroids. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of the groups were similar. After 2 y of daily isoflavone exposure, all clinical chemistry values remained within the normal range. The only variable that changed significantly was blood urea nitrogen, which increased significantly after 2 y (P = 0.048) but not after 1 y (P = 0.343) in the supplementation groups. Isoflavone supplementation did not affect blood lymphocyte or serum free thyroxine concentrations. No significant differences in endometrial thickness or fibroids were observed between the groups. Two serious adverse events were detected (one case of breast cancer and one case of estrogen receptor-negative endometrial cancer), which was less than the expected population rate for these cancers. CONCLUSION: Daily supplementation for 2 y with 80-120 mg soy hypocotyl isoflavones has minimal risk in healthy menopausal women. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00665860.

Effects of blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) on DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and phase II enzyme activities in rats.

Blueberry extracts have high antioxidant potential and increase phase II enzyme activities in vitro. This study tested the hypothesis that blueberries would reduce DNA damage and lipid peroxidation and increase phase II enzyme activities in vivo. Young, healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8 per group) were fed control AIN-93 diets or AIN-93 diets supplemented with blueberries or blueberry extracts for 3 weeks. Diets were supplemented with 10% freeze-dried whole blueberries, blueberry polyphenol extract and sugars to match the 10% blueberry diet, or 1 and 0.2% blueberry flavonoids, which were primarily anthocyanins. Liver and colon mucosa glutathione-S-transferase (GST), quinone reductase, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities in colon mucosa and liver were not significantly increased by freeze-dried whole blueberries or blueberry fractions. Liver GST activity, however, was approximately 25% higher than controls for the freeze-dried whole blueberry, blueberry polyphenol, and 1% flavonoid groups. DNA damage was significantly lower than control only in the liver of animals fed the 1% flavonoid diet. The level of urinary F(2)-isoprostanes, a measure of lipid peroxidation, was unaffected. In summary, in healthy rats, short-term supplementation with freeze-dried whole blueberries, blueberry polyphenols, or blueberry flavonoids did not significantly increase phase II enzyme activities. However, supplementation with 1% blueberry flavonoids did decrease oxidative DNA damage in the liver.

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in the Georgia Older Americans Nutrition Program.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in older adults enrolled in community-based meal programs is not well characterized. The objective was to identify predictors of poor serum 25(OH)D status and the response to vitamin D supplementation in a convenience sample from the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program (OAANP) in northeast Georgia (N = 158, mean age = 77 years, 81% women, 69% Caucasian, 31% African American). Mean serum 25(OH)D was 55nmol/l, and intakes of vitamin D and calcium from foods were very low. Vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D 25- < 50 nmol/l) occurred in 36.7%. Vitamin D deficiency occurred in 8.2% (25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l) and was associated with low milk intake, low sunlight exposure, receiving meals at home, tobacco use, depression, dementia, antianxiety medication, poor instrumental activities of daily living, and low calf circumference (p < or = 0.05). When non-supplement users (n = 28) were given a multivitamin with vitamin D (10 microg/d) and calcium (450 mg/d) for 4 months, 25(OH)D increased from 50 to 78 nmol/l, the prevalence of poor vitamin D status (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l) decreased from 61% to 14%, and serum alkaline phosphatase decreased by 10% (p < 0.01). High body weight appeared to attenuate the increase in 25(OH)D in response to the multivitamin supplement (p < or = 0.05). In conclusion, OAANP services did not prevent poor vitamin D and calcium status, but a supplement with vitamin D and calcium was beneficial.

Physical activity and physical function improved following a community-based intervention in older adults in Georgia senior centers.

We evaluated a community-based physical activity intervention in Georgia senior centers. Participants were a convenience sample that completed the pre-test only (n = 592), or the pre-test, the intervention, and a post-test (n = 418, 98% aged 60 and older, mean age = 75, 83% female, 56% black). The 4-month physical activity intervention, based on the Health Belief Model, included 16 sessions that focused on educator-led chair exercises, promotion of walking, using a pedometer, and recording daily steps. Pre- and post-tests assessed physical activity and physical function, categorized as poor, moderate, or good (Short Physical Performance Battery). Following the intervention, participants improved their physical function (good physical function at pre-test vs. post-test: 16.5% vs. 25.3%, P < or = 0.001), increased minutes of physical activity by 26% (P < or = 0.001) and step counts by 29% (P < or = 0.0001, sub-sample, n = 95), and decreased reports of "it's not safe" as a barrier to physical activity (P < or = 0.05). Increased physical activity (P < or = 0.01) was associated with improved physical function following the intervention. The results of this evaluation provide an evidence base for the effectiveness of this community intervention for improving physical activity and physical function in older adults.

Diabetes self-management behaviors and A1c improved following a community-based intervention in older adults in Georgia senior centers.

A community-based intervention to improve diabetes self-management (DSM) and decrease A1c in older adults with diabetes from Georgia senior centers was evaluated. Participants were a convenience sample that completed the pre-test questionnaire only (N = 351) and a subset that completed the pre-test, intervention, and post-test questionnaires and A1c measurements (n = 144, mean age = 74 years, 84% female, 42% white, 57% black). Incorporating principles of the Health Belief Model and National Standards for DSM, the 4-month intervention consisted of eight sessions focused on improving daily adherence to DSM behaviors and included physical activity. At the post-test, several DSM behaviors increased by > or = 1 day/week: following a healthy eating plan, following an eating plan prescribed by their doctor, eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily, spacing carbohydrates, and inspecting the insides of shoes (P < or = 0.0001). The mean decrease in A1c for the entire sample was 0.25% (SD = 0.82, P < or = 0.001, n = 144) and those with an initial A1c > 8% had a clinically significant mean decrease of 1.15% (SD = 1.09, pre-test: 9.48% vs. 8.33%, P < or = 0.001, n = 24). Increased physical activity was the DSM behavior consistently associated with decreased A1c in regression analyses (P < or = 0.05). The results of this evaluation provide an evidence base for the effectiveness of this community intervention in decreasing A1c and improving DSM behaviors in older adults.

Improvement in A1C levels and diabetes self-management activities following a nutrition and diabetes education program in older adults.

This study examined the effects of a nutrition and diabetes education intervention on improving hemoglobin A1C levels, diabetes self-management activities, and A1C knowledge in congregate meal recipients in senior centers in north Georgia. Participants were a convenience sample and completed a pre-test, an educational intervention, and a post-test (N = 91, mean age = 73 years, 60% Caucasian, and 40% African American). Following the intervention, (1) A1C levels significantly decreased by 0.66 and 1.46% among those with pretest A1C of > 6.5% and > 8%, respectively (P 6.5% were correlated with increases in physical activity (P

Nutrition and health education intervention for whole grain foods in the Georgia older Americans nutrition programs.

This study examined the effects of a nutrition education intervention on improving the intake and behaviors related to whole grain foods in congregate meal recipients in senior centers in north Georgia. Participants were a convenience sample and completed a pretest, an educational intervention, and a post-test (N = 84, mean age = 77 years, 88% female, 76% Caucasian, and 24% African American). At the pre-test, most participants agreed that eating more whole grain foods would help reduce their risk of cancer (69%), heart disease (76%), type 2 diabetes (65%), and bowel disorders (82%), but consumption of 11 whole grain foods was low (10.5 times/week). Following the intervention, participants were more likely to suggest one or more correct ways to identify whole grain foods (45 vs. 62%, P< or = 0.05), and to report an increased intake of whole grain bread, cereal, and crackers (5.8 vs. 6.9 times/week, P < or = 0.05). While awareness of the health benefits of whole grain foods was high, the intakes were low. As a first step, this intervention improved several aspects of the consumption of whole grain foods; however, additional interventions that target the individual and the congregate meal program are needed to increase intakes to the recommended three servings daily.

Moderate iron overload enhances lipid peroxidation in livers of rats, but does not affect NF-kappaB activation induced by the peroxisome proliferator, Wy-14,643.

It has been hypothesized that high concentrations of tissue iron may enhance carcinogenesis induced by free radical mechanisms. Wy-14,643 is a peroxisome proliferator that is hepatocarcinogenic in rats. Tumor induction may result in part from excessive production of reactive oxygen species, particularly H(2)O(2). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of iron status on oxidative stress and NF-kappaB activation in livers of rats treated with Wy-14,643. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of four diets (20, 45, 650, 1500 mg Fe/kg diet) for 28 d. At the time of tissue collection, liver iron ranged from 1.4 to 9.9 micro mol/g wet tissue in the diet groups. Wy-14,643 (0 or 0.1 g/100 g diet) was added to the diet for the final 10 d of the study. Wy-14,643 doubled the liver weight/body weight ratio (P = 0.0001), which was also increased by iron supplementation (P < 0.01). Iron supplementation increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and/or conjugated dienes, but there was no synergism between Wy 14,643 and iron on lipid peroxidation measures. The hepatic DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was increased in rats administered Wy-14,643. However, differences in liver iron concentration did not alter activation of NF-kappaB in untreated rats or in those treated with Wy-14,643. DNA double-strand breakage was not affected by iron or Wy-14,643. In summary, although moderate changes in iron status altered liver lipid peroxidation, iron did not significantly increase oxidative stress induced by a hepatocarcinogenic peroxisome proliferator.