Hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects of a tropical highland blackberry beverage consumption in healthy individuals on a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet challenge

BACKGROUND: Blackberries have a high content of bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and ellagitannins, which are associated with health benefits against cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and other inflammatory conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of a tropical highland blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos Schltdl.) beverage (50% v/v) on lipids, glucose and antioxidant parameters of healthy individuals. METHODS: Thirteen healthy individuals of both sexes were assigned into two groups in a randomized crossover design. Each participant was subjected to a high fat and high carbohydrate diet challenge and drank 250 mL of either blackberry beverage or water with every meal, three times a day for 14 days. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities were assessed from plasma. RESULTS: Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and glucose levels significantly decreased (p 0.05). CAT and SOD enzymatic activities increased slightly, although not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Drinking a beverage from a blackberry micro-filtered juice improved plasma lipid and glucose profiles, as well as CATand SOD enzymatic activities in healthy participants.European Commission FP6/[PAVUC project INCO contract 015279]/EU/FranciaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[817-A6-329]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (CITA)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Químic