Blueberries improve glucose tolerance without altering body composition in obese postmenopausal mice

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2015-03, Vol.23 (3), p.573-580
• Main Authors: Elks, Carrie M., Terrebonne, Jennifer D., Ingram, Donald K., Stephens, Jacqueline M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adiponectin - metabolism; Age; Animals; Biomedical research; Blueberry Plants; Body Composition - drug effects; Body Weight - drug effects; Diet; Diet, High-Fat; Fatty acids; Fatty Liver - metabolism; Female; Fruit; Gene expression; Glucose Intolerance - complications; Glucose Intolerance - diet therapy; Glucose Intolerance - metabolism; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipids; Menopause; Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism; Metabolic Syndrome - prevention & control; Metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Obese; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Postmenopause - drug effects; Postmenopause - metabolism; Powders; Rodents; Triglycerides; Women
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20926

Objective Metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk increases significantly during menopause and remains elevated postmenopause. Several botanicals, including blueberries (BB), have been shown to delay MetS progression, but few studies have been conducted in postmenopausal animal models. Here, the effects of BB supplementation on obese postmenopausal mice using a chemically induced menopause model were examined. Methods After induction of menopause, mice were fed a high‐fat diet or the same diet supplemented with 4% BB powder for 12 weeks. Body weight and body composition were measured, and mice were subjected to glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Serum triglycerides and adiponectin were measured, and liver histology and hepatic gene expression were assessed. Results Menopausal and BB‐supplemented mice had significantly higher body weights and fat mass than control mice, while menopausal mice had impaired glucose tolerance and higher serum triglycerides when compared with control and BB‐supplemented mice. Menopausal mice also had hepatic steatosis that was prevented by BB supplementation and correlated with expression of genes involved in hepatic fatty acid oxidation. Conclusions BB supplementation prevents the glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis that occur in obese postmenopausal mice, and these effects are independent of body weight.