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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #213782
Title: Anthocyanins: Do they really prevent obesity?

Author
item Prior, Ronald
item WU, XIANLI - ACNC/UAMS
item HAGAR, TIFFANY - UNIV OF AR/FAYETTVILLE
item HAGAR, AARON - ACNC
item HOWARD, LUKE - UNIV OF AR/FAYETTVILLE

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2007
Publication Date: 4/28/2007
Citation: Prior, R.L., Wu, X., Hagar, T., Hagar, A., Howard, L. 2007. Anthocyanins: Do they really prevent obesity? [abstract]. The FASEB Journal. 21(6):A103.

Interpretive Summary: The prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached epidemic proportions in recent years and the incidence in U.S. children continues to rise. Anthocyanins (ACNs), which are the components in many berries that provide the dark blue and red colors, have been reported to prevent obesity in a mouse model. The objectives of these studies were to determine if consumption of the whole berry of blueberry (BB), black raspberry (BR), or strawberry (SB) were effective in preventing obesity. Contrary to previously published reports (J. Nutr. 133:2125, 2003), ACNs from purple corn did not prevent obesity. There was no evidence that berry anthocyanins when fed as part of the diet as the whole berry, prevented obesity, and to the contrary, may have increased obesity. However, when a purified preparation of blueberry or strawberry anthocyanins was given in the water, the amount of adipose tissue fat deposited was less.

Technical Abstract: Male C57BL6 mice received diets with either 10% of cal. from fat (LF), a high fat diet [45% (HF45) or 60% (HF60) cal. from fat]. In 2 studies these were given with or without: freeze dried powders from whole blueberries (BB), strawberries (SB), black raspberries (BR) or concentrated anthocyanins (ACNs) from purple corn (PC) added to diet or SB or BB added to drinking water. Body composition was determined utilizing Echo MRI. Berries added to the LF diet did not alter wt. gain, final wts., body fat or protein (% BW), or diet or energy intake. However, in HF45 mice, wt. gain, final wts., body fat (%) and epididymal fat wts. increased and body protein decreased (p<0.01) compared to LF mice. In mice fed HF45 diet plus either BB or BR, body wt. gains, body fat (% of BW) and epididymal fat wts. were significantly greater than in the HF45 fed controls. Glucose tolerance decreased with age and in HF45 vs LF mice. SB or BB feeding did not alter glucose tolerance. Baseline plasma glucose was lower in SB vs HF45 fed mice. After 8 weeks mice fed the HF60 diet plus an extract of ACNs from BB in the water, had lower body wt. gains and body fat than the HF60 fed controls. Contrary to previously published reports (J. Nutr. 133:2125, 2003), ACNs from PC did not prevent obesity. ACNs when fed as part of the diet as the whole berry, did not prevent, and to the contrary, may have increased obesity.