(P26-061-25) Antioxidant Properties of Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) on Selected Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR)

Objectives: This research investigates the antioxidant properties of blueberry on selected cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). It focused on evaluating the effects on weight, blood pressure (BP), vitamin C levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, homocysteine levels, and bile acid concentration.

Methods: A total of 50 SHR rats were used in an intervention study to test six different blueberry diets over an 8 weeks’ period: normal fat diet control (NC), normal fat diet 4% Blueberry (N4), Normal fat 8% blueberry (N8), high-fat diet control (HC), high-fat diet 4% Blueberry (H4), and high fat 8% blueberry (H8). Samples were collected at baseline, weekly and at termination. On the last day of the study, the animals were fasted for 24 hours. At termination, the rats were euthanized in the CO2 chamber and the samples collected for analyses.

Results: Our findings revealed that the NC diet consistently outperformed high fat diets in maintaining lower BP and higher vitamin C levels (142.3 mmHg compared to 152 mmHg, and 647.14µm compared to 454.86µm respectively). This suggests the role of blueberry in promoting cardiovascular health. Blueberry supplementation significantly influenced GPx levels, demonstrating its potential role in enhancing endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms, particularly in liver tissues. While high fat diets resulted in elevated homocysteine levels compared to NC diets (875.33µm and 800.00µm respectively), the addition of blueberries mitigated some of these negative effects, suggesting a protective role of blueberries in managing homocysteine levels. Additionally, bile acid excretion was higher in the NC group compared to the HC group (306.12µm and 214.40µm respectively) suggesting better metabolic outcomes associated with a normal fat intake.

Conclusions: The results provide valuable insights for dietary interventions with blueberry aimed at improving cardiovascular outcomes and emphasizing the need for balanced diets enriched with antioxidant-rich foods to enhance health in hypertensive populations.

Funding Sources: George Washington Carver Agriculture Experiment Station, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States, through the Evans Allen Agriculture Research Program of the United States department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA).