Effects of Strawberries on Lipid Profile in Subjects with Dyslipidemia and Abdominal Adiposity

Abstract

Strawberries have been shown to exert cardio-protective benefits in several studies. However, clinical investigation is lacking on its effects in subjects with dyslipidemia. We examined the hypothesis that strawberry supplementation will lower lipid profiles and improve lipid peroxidation in subjects with abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia. Subjects (n=17) with abdominal adiposity (abdominal adiposity men>40 inches, women >35 inches) and dyslipidemia (two of four criteria: fasting total cholesterol >200 mg/dL, triglycerides >150 mg/dL, LDL-cholesterol >100 mg/dL, or HDL-cholesterol (men<40 mg/dL, women <50 mg/dL) were randomly assigned to strawberry (50g/day freeze-dried strawberries) or control (8 g fiber/day) daily for 12 weeks. Blood draws, anthropometrics, blood pressure, and dietary data were collected at screen, 6 and 12 weeks of the study. Strawberry and control beverage revealed a significant decrease in oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) versus baseline (p<0.05). The between group changes in ox-LDL showed a decreasing trend in the strawberry intervention compared to control after 12 weeks supplementation (p=0.054). No effects were noted in anthropometric measures, blood pressure, glucose control, and lipid profile. Although strawberries did not significantly reduce lipid oxidation compared to control, the decreasing trend in ox-LDL suggests strawberries may produce selected cardio-protective effects.