HomeNutritionEffect of Blueberry Extract on Liver in Aged Rats

Effect of Blueberry Extract on Liver in Aged Rats

November 14, 2022

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022 Jul 18;2022:3490776. doi: 10.1155/2022/3490776. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Aging and age-related disorders are prominent issues. Aging is associated with a gradual impairment of physiology at the genetic, cellular, tissue, and whole organism level that directly influences the development of chronic diseases and organ failure. Blueberries, on the other hand, are well known for their high content of bioactive compounds and have demonstrated positive impacts on metabolic factors that influence health and general well-being. This study is aimed at evaluating the ameliorating the effects of blueberry on the liver of aged rats by monitoring changes in metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, and inflammatory disruption. The aged group of rats was orally administered with blueberry extract (200 mg/kg) for a period of 4 weeks. The results revealed that aging was associated with an increase in body weight, liver weight, and metabolic parameters like serum insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and liver function markers accompanied with a decrease in vitamin D levels. Furthermore, the results showed a significant diminish in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content with an elevation in lipid peroxidation, inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) as well as fibrotic markers (TGF-β1) in the liver of aged rats. Compared to the young rats (control group), blueberry effectively reversed age-mediated disruption of the aforementioned parameters. Hence, blueberries can be used as a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of age-related liver dysfunction and disease.

PMID:35898615 | PMC:PMC9314000 | DOI:10.1155/2022/3490776

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About The Author

Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.