PARTNERSHIP: Elucidating Gut Microbiota-dependent Health Impacts of Haskap Berries to Inform Agricultural Production Practices That Will Maximize Bioactive Potential
Montana State University
Summary
Polyphenol-rich Haskap berries (Haskap) have untapped therapeutic potential to improve human health, and agricultural producers in northern U.S. states are poised to increase production if consumer demand increases. A critical knowledge gap is that little is known about the interactions between gut microbes and Haskap polyphenols to produce bioactive metabolites linked to downstream health impacts. Additionally, little is known about which Haskap varieties and harvest timing yield the greatest bioactive potential. This study aims to address these gaps by investigating the interaction of bioactive components in Haskap with gut microbiota and the resultant gut and serum metabolites, inflammation, and metabolic health, and then couple this with analysis of berries from different Haskap varieties and harvest times.
Description
The long-term goal of this project is to form a partnership linking the health impacts of Haskap varieties and management practices that maximize health-promoting compounds to benefit both consumers and producers. Specific objectives of this study are to determine 1) the impact of Haskap on the gut microbiome and metabolome, 2) how gut microbiome composition and production of bioactive metabolites from Haskap impacts health and inflammation biomarkers, and 3) which Haskap varieties and growing practices increase production of health-promoting compounds. To accomplish this, a four-armed, rando…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 35–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria for Metabolically Healthy Group: All of the following: * Waist circumference: men ≤ 40, women ≤ 35 inches * Systolic blood pressure: ≤ 130 mmHg * Diastolic blood pressure: ≤ 85 mmHg * Fasting glucose: ≤ 100 mg·dl-1 * Fasting triglycerides: ≤ 150 mg·dl-1 * HDL: men \> 40, women \> 50 mg·dl-1 Inclusion Criteria for Metabolically Unhealthy Group: Required: \- Waist circumference: men ≥ 40, women ≥ 35 inches AND ≥ 1 of the following: * Systolic blood pressure: \> 130 mmHg * Diastolic blood pressure: \> 85 mmHg * Fasting glucose: \> 100 mg·dl-1 * Fasting triglycerides: \>…
Interventions
- Dietary SupplementHaskap berry smoothie
A smoothie blend of berries and water
- Dietary SupplementPlacebo comparator
A smoothie with no polyphenolic content and matched in carbohydrate composition to the experimental haskap smoothie
Location
- Montana State UniversityBozeman, Montana