PMID- 30699971 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20190403 LR - 20200225 IS - 2072-6643 (Electronic) IS - 2072-6643 (Linking) VI - 11 IP - 2 DP - 2019 Jan 29 TI - Blueberries Improve Pain, Gait Performance, and Inflammation in Individuals with Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis. LID - 10.3390/nu11020290 [doi] LID - 290 AB - Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the world and is the most frequent cause of walking related disability among older adults in the US, which brings a significant economic burden and reduces quality of life. The initiation and development of OA typically involves degeneration or progressive loss of the structure and function of articular cartilage. Inflammation is one of the major drives of the progression of OA. Dietary polyphenols have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties and potential anabolic effects on the cartilage cells. Blueberries are widely consumed and are high in dietary polyphenols, therefore regular consumption of blueberries may help improve OA. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of freeze dried whole blueberries on pain, gait performance, and inflammation in individuals with symptomatic knee OA. In a randomized, double-blind trial, adults age 45 to 79 with symptomatic knee OA, were randomized to either consume 40 g freeze-dried blueberry powder (n = 33) or placebo powder (n = 30) daily for four months. Blood draws and assessment of pain and gait were conducted at baseline, two months, and four months. Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaires were used to assess pain and GAITRite((R)) electronic walkway was used to evaluate gait spatiotemporal parameters. WOMAC total score and sub-groups, including pain, stiffness, and difficulty to perform daily activities decreased significantly in the blueberry treatment group (p < 0.05), but improvement of WOMAC total score and difficulty to perform daily activities were not observed in the placebo group. Normal walking pace single support percentage for both limbs increased (p = or < 0.007), while double support percentage for both limbs decreased in the blueberry treatment group (p = or < 0.003). No significant changes were observed in plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-3, MMP-13, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in both treatment groups. However, an increasing trend for IL-13 concentration and a decreasing trend in MCP-1 concentration were noted in the blueberry group. The findings of this study suggest that daily incorporation of whole blueberries may reduce pain, stiffness, and difficulty to perform daily activities, while improving gait performance, and would therefore improve quality of life in individuals with symptomatic knee OA. FAU - Du, Chen AU - Du C AD - Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. cdu@twu.edu. FAU - Smith, Amy AU - Smith A AD - Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. asmith60@twu.edu. FAU - Avalos, Marco AU - Avalos M AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-5724-0919 AD - School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. mavalos1@twu.edu. FAU - South, Sanique AU - South S AD - Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. ssouth@twu.edu. FAU - Crabtree, Keith AU - Crabtree K AD - Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. kcrabtree@twu.edu. FAU - Wang, Wanyi AU - Wang W AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-9482-9968 AD - Center for Research Design and Analysis, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX 77030, USA. WWang@twu.edu. FAU - Kwon, Young-Hoo AU - Kwon YH AD - School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. YKwon@twu.edu. FAU - Vijayagopal, Parakat AU - Vijayagopal P AD - Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. pvijayagopal@twu.edu. FAU - Juma, Shanil AU - Juma S AD - Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. sjuma@twu.edu. LA - eng GR - N/A/US Highbush Blueberry Council/ PT - Journal Article PT - Randomized Controlled Trial DEP - 20190129 PL - Switzerland TA - Nutrients JT - Nutrients JID - 101521595 RN - 0 (Inflammation Mediators) SB - IM MH - Aged MH - *Blueberry Plants MH - Double-Blind Method MH - Female MH - *Gait MH - Humans MH - Inflammation/*diet therapy MH - Inflammation Mediators/blood MH - Male MH - Middle Aged MH - Osteoarthritis, Knee/*diet therapy MH - Pain/*diet therapy MH - Pain Measurement MH - Walking PMC - PMC6413191 OTO - NOTNLM OT - blueberry OT - gait OT - inflammation OT - knee osteoarthritis OT - pain OT - polyphenols COIS- The authors declare no conflict of interest. EDAT- 2019/02/01 06:00 MHDA- 2019/04/04 06:00 PMCR- 2019/02/01 CRDT- 2019/02/01 06:00 PHST- 2018/12/17 00:00 [received] PHST- 2019/01/17 00:00 [revised] PHST- 2019/01/23 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2019/02/01 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2019/02/01 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2019/04/04 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2019/02/01 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - nu11020290 [pii] AID - nutrients-11-00290 [pii] AID - 10.3390/nu11020290 [doi] PST - epublish SO - Nutrients. 2019 Jan 29;11(2):290. doi: 10.3390/nu11020290.