Blueberry Diet Helps Protect Kidneys in Hypertensive Rats
Author Information
Author(s): Carrie M. Elks, Scott D. Reed, Nithya Mariappan, Barbara Shukitt-Hale, James A. Joseph, Donald K. Ingram, Joseph Francis
Primary Institution: Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine
Hypothesis
The dietary BB supplementation would reduce oxidative stress and thus attenuate renal damage.
Conclusion
Long-term feeding of a blueberry-enriched diet lowered blood pressure and improved kidney function in hypertensive rats.
Supporting Evidence
- Rats on a blueberry diet had lower blood pressure compared to control rats.
- The blueberry diet improved kidney function as measured by glomerular filtration rate.
- Oxidative stress markers were significantly lower in rats fed blueberries.
- Long-term blueberry feeding preserved renal hemodynamics in hypertensive rats.
Takeaway
Feeding rats blueberries helped their kidneys stay healthy and lowered their blood pressure.
Methodology
Male spontaneously hypertensive rats were fed a blueberry-enriched diet or a control diet for 6 or 12 weeks, and various kidney functions and oxidative stress markers were measured.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on prevention rather than treatment of hypertension-induced renal injury.
Participant Demographics
Male spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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