BERI study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effects of bilberry fruit and black rice derived anthocyanins on lipid status in adults
IRAS ID
223958
Contact name
Paul Kroon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Quadram Institute Bioscience
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The protective effect may be because of compounds contained within these foods, called flavonoids. Anthocyanins are a particular group of flavonoids and are found in berry fruits (e.g. blueberry, bilberry, raspberry, and strawberry) and other foods such as aubergine skins and black rice. Anthocyanins are what give the red, black, purple and blue colours to such foods and different foods may contain different types of anthocyanins. For example, bilberry fruit contains a different type of anthocyanin to that of black rice.
In a randomized 3 phase crossover study we aim to recruit 50 participants (men and women) aged 45 years or more with a higher than optimal blood cholesterol level to consume capsules containing (i) 320 mg anthocyanins derived from bilberry fruit, (ii) 320 mg anthocyanins derived from black rice and (iii) a placebo control. Each test product will be ingested for 28 days with a wash-out period of 4 weeks in-between. Blood samples will be collected at the start and end of each 28-day period. These will be used to measure components that are related to cardiovascular health such as lipids (total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides) and blood sugar. We will also measure the effects of the anthocyanin types on bile acids (breakdown products of cholesterol)and lipid metabolism. A small sub-group of participants (24 people) will be required to collect faecal samples.
This study will be conducted at the Quadram Institute (QI) in Norwich and is being funded by the Food and Health Institute Strategic programme grant to QI.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0154
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion