Researchers at UCLA are set to enroll subjects with high blood cholesterol levels into a clinical feeding study where they will be given either 500g strawberries daily or an isocaloric snack supplement to determine if strawberries positively impact biomarkers for cardiovascular disease.
The biomarkers to be evaluated at baseline and throughout the study will include oxidized phospholipids (ApoB), oxidized LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol and C-reactive protein. There is sufficient basic science and animal data that suggests the high antioxidant activity of strawberries may help reduce levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol, the most atherogenic cholesterol particle. Flavonoids in strawberries may also provide cardio protection by inhibiting platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis.
Nearly 2,400 people die each day of cardiovascular disease, an average of one death every 36 seconds. 1 One of the major modifiable risk factors for development of coronary heart disease is hypercholesterolemia. According to the American Heart Association, one in three Americans has blood cholesterol levels at or above the desirable limit of 200 mg/dL and a 10% reduction in total cholesterol nationwide could result in a 30% reduction in the incidence rates of cardiovascular disease. Diets rich in plant-based foods and, specifically fruits and vegetables are thought to provide protective vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients while helping to keep the diet low in nutrients known to increase risk for heart disease, such as saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol and sodium.
Seeram et al. UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, University of California, Los Angeles
1 American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics— 2007 Update At–a-Glance.