Erratum for Toh et al. (Enhancing the cardiovascular protective effects of a healthy dietary pattern with wolfberry (Lycium barbarum): A randomized controlled trial). Am J Clin Nutr 2021;114(1):80–9.

Abstract Objectives The study aimed to investigate the impact of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) consumption as part of a healthy dietary pattern on cardiovascular health in Singaporean middle-aged and older adults. It was hypothesized that the consumption of wolfberry could further enhance the cardiovascular protective effects of a healthy dietary pattern. Methods This was a 16 week, parallel design, randomized controlled trial where 40 Singaporean men and women (aged 50 to 64 years) received dietary counselling to follow a healthy dietary pattern either with or without 15 g/day of dried whole wolfberry, cooked and consumed as part of their meals. Blood pressure, serum lipid-lipoprotein concentrations and dietary compliance using 3-day food records were monitored every 4 weeks. Further evaluation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers, broadly classified as serological (total nitrate/nitrite, endothelin-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and von-Willebrand factor), structural (carotid intima-media thickness using B-mode ultrasonography) and functional (flow-mediated dilation using B-mode ultrasonography and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+/KDR+) by fluorescence-activated cell sorting) were analyzed before and after intervention. Results Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern contributed to a time dependent effect on both the plasma total nitrate/nitrite (P < 0.01) and plasma endothelin-1 (P < 0.005) which were raised and lowered respectively at week 16. However, changes were significant only in the wolfberry group (total nitrate/nitrite: 15.9 ± 1.8 to 19.4 ± 2.2 μmol/L, P < 0.05; endothelin-1: 1.31 ± 0.12 to 1.11 ± 0.10 ng/L, P < 0.01) and not in the control group. Moreover, a significant increase in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was also detected solely in the wolfberry group (1.56 ± 0.10 to 1.65 ± 0.10 mmol/L, P < 0.05). The other serological, structural and functional biomarkers of cardiovascular health showed no observable change after the intervention. Conclusions Incorporating wolfberry to your daily meals may augment the cardiovascular protective benefits of a healthy dietary pattern by improving the regulation of vascular tone and plasma lipid-lipoprotein profile in Singaporean middle-aged and older adults. Funding Sources Ministry of Education, Singapore.

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Wolfberry Consumption with a Healthy Dietary Pattern Lowers Oxidative Stress and Improves Carotenoids Status in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab034_013 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 79-79

Author(s):

Darel Wee Kiat Toh ◽

Wan Yee Lee ◽

Hanzhang Zhou ◽

Clarinda Sutanto ◽

Delia Pei Shan Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Dietary Pattern ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Dietary Counselling ◽

The Impact ◽

Healthy Dietary Pattern

Abstract Objectives The incorporation of zeaxanthin rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augment its antioxidant effects although evidence evaluating whole fruits is lacking. The objectives of this study are to (1) investigate the impact of dietary counselling, either with or without whole dried wolfberry on oxidative stress status in middle-aged and older Singaporean adults and (2) delineate underlying mechanisms by examining associations with the corresponding changes in carotenoids status. Methods In this 16-week, parallel design randomized controlled trial, 40 subjects (29 F, 11 M; aged 50 to 64 y) received dietary counselling to follow a healthy dietary pattern. Compared to the control group (CG, n = 18), the wolfberry group (WG, n = 22) additionally cooked and consumed 15 g/d whole dried wolfberry with their main meals. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay and 8-isoprostanes by ELISA) were measured at baseline and week 16. Plasma and dietary carotenoids analyzed by HPLC and 3-day food records respectively were measured at baseline, week 8 and week 16 while skin carotenoids status (SCS) by resonance Raman spectroscopy was assayed every 4 weeks. Results Plasma 8-isoprostanes showed a time effect (P < 0.05), attributed to the marked decline in the WG only (WG: −19.0 ± 43.6 ng/L; CG: −7.7 ± 38.7 ng/L, mean ± SD) though no effect was observed for MDA. A significant interaction effect (P < 0.001), driven by higher plasma zeaxanthin (WG: +0.08 ± 0.13 nmol/L; CG: −0.03 ± 0.05 nmol/L) and SCS (WG: +4242 ± 4938 a.u.; CG: +1713 ± 5921 a.u.) was observed in the WG with a marked increase evident from week 8 onwards although concentrations of the other plasma carotenoids were maintained. Moreover, the change value for plasma zeaxanthin in the WG was inversely associated with the corresponding changes in plasma 8-isoprostanes (−0.21 (−0.43, 0.00) ng/µmol, regression coefficient (95% CI); P = 0.05). This same association was absent in the CG. Conclusions Consuming wolfberry with a healthy dietary pattern attenuates oxidative stress in middle-aged and older adults and this may be attributed to the rich zeaxanthin content in wolfberry. Funding Sources National University of Singapore Ministry of Education, Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

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Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) Consumption with a Healthy Dietary Pattern Lowers Oxidative Stress in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10040567 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 567

Author(s):

Darel Wee Kiat Toh ◽

Wan Yee Lee ◽

Hanzhang Zhou ◽

Clarinda Nataria Sutanto ◽

Delia Pei Shan Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Older Adults ◽

Dietary Pattern ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Prostaglandin F2α ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Healthy Dietary Pattern

Incorporating zeaxanthin-rich wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) into a healthy dietary pattern may augment its antioxidant potential. The present 16-week, parallel design randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of adhering to a healthy dietary pattern, either with or without whole dried wolfberry (15 g/d) on oxidative stress status (plasma malondialdehyde and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α) in middle-aged and older adults. Changes to carotenoids status (plasma and skin carotenoids) and body composition were further evaluated to explore potential mechanisms which underlie the antioxidant properties of wolfberry. Plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, plasma zeaxanthin and skin carotenoids status were significantly raised in the wolfberry consuming group (n = 22; p < 0.05) compared to the control group which showed no changes (n = 18). Likewise in the wolfberry group only, inverse association was observed between the change values of plasma zeaxanthin and plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (−0.21 (−0.43, 0.00) ng/µmol, regression coefficient (95% CI); p = 0.05). Wolfberry consumption with a healthy dietary pattern may serve as a dietary strategy to attenuate lipid peroxidation among middle-aged and older adults who are at a heightened risk of oxidative stress induced age-related disorders. The antioxidant properties of wolfberry may be attributed to its rich zeaxanthin content.

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