Effect of blueberry ingestion on natural killer cell counts, oxidative stress, and inflammation prior to and after 2.5 h of running
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which may exhibit significant health benefits. Strenous exercise is known to acutely generate oxidative stress and an inflammatory state, and serves as an on-demand model to test antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether 250 g of blueberries per day for 6 weeks and 375 g given 1 h prior to 2.5 h of running at ∼72% maximal oxygen consumption counters oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune changes. Twenty-five well-trained subjects
were recruited and randomized into blueberry (BB) (N = 13) or control (CON) (N = 12) groups. Blood, muscle, and urine samples were obtained pre-exercise and immediately postexercise, and blood and urine 1 h postexercise. Blood was examined for F2-isoprostanes
for oxidative stress, cortisol, cytokines, homocysteine, leukocytes, T-cell function, natural killer (NK), and lymphocyte cell counts for inflammation and immune system activation, and ferric reducing ability of plasma for antioxidant capacity. Muscle biopsies were examined for glycogen and
NFkB expression to evaluate stress and inflammation. Urine was tested for modification of DNA (8-OHDG) and RNA (5-OHMU) as markers of nucleic acid oxidation. A 2 (treatment) × 3 (time) repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Increases in F2-isoprostanes
and 5-OHMU were significantly less in BB and plasma IL-10 and NK cell counts were significantly greater in BB vs. CON. Changes in all other markers did not differ. This study indicates that daily blueberry consumption for 6 weeks increases NK cell counts, and acute ingestion reduces oxidative
stress and increases anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Keywords: F2-isoprostanes; antioxidants; antioxydants; bleuets; blueberries; exercice physique; exercise; immunity; immunité; inflammation
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. 2: Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. 3: Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. 4: Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. 5: Department of Biomedical Research Education and Training, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA.
Publication date: 01 December 2011
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