Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Forty-five days of goji berry supplementation significantly improved lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in the participating subjects with metabolic syndrome compared to the control.
Lycium barbrum, commonly known as goji berry, is a small red fruit of traditional Chinese heritage. In recent years, the superfood has become increasingly well known as science continues to shed light on its enormous nutritional benefits. Toting one of the highest antioxidant profiles among all fruits, goji berry is considered to be the richest natural source of Vitamin C, flavonoids, and carotenoids 1,2. Several studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of goji berry in relation to aging, cancer, fatigue, and Alzheimer’s disease 3,4, but more recent work is now highlighting its antioxidant benefits for diabetes, obesity, and the general cluster of conditions falling under metabolic syndrome 5. In the prevention of cardiovascular disease, disruption of the clinical factors associated with metabolic syndrome, including elevated blood pressure, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress 6, is a necessary first step. From a dietary perspective, goji berry offers distinct therapeutic value as a functional food that supports reduction and prevention of chronic disease. In an exploratory study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2017), researchers investigated the effects of goji berry in patients with metabolic syndrome, looking at how daily intake of a high-antioxidant food might influence markers of inflammation, lipid profile, and other indices of cardiometabolic health.
The 45-day, randomized, controlled trial involved a total of 50 participants (aged 32-76 years) carrying a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Patients were randomly divided into two groups and individually instructed to follow a healthy diet (based on the IV Brazilian Guidelines on Dyslipidemia and Atherosclerosis Prevention) over the course of 45 days. In addition, participants in the goji berry group were to include 14 g of natural goji berry in their diet, while control participants did not receive any supplementation. At baseline and following the 45-day trial period, researchers examined anthropometric indices (height, weight, waist circumference) and assessed biomarkers of oxidative stress/antioxidant capacity (glutathione; catalase, CAT; superoxide dismutase, SOD) and inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP; Tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-alpha; Interleukin-6, IL-6) from fasting blood samples. Lipid profile (total cholesterol, TC; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C; very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, VLDL-C) of patients was also tested.
Analyses of the data yielded the following key findings at the end of the 45-day intervention:
Anthropometric Measures: Significant reduction in waist circumference for the goji berry group, as compared to controls (106.46 +/- 9.78 cm at baseline vs. 100.08 +/- 19.78 cm on Day 45, p < 0.001).
Lipid Profile: The goji berry group showed significant improvement on all four lipid variables, TC (p < 0.01), LDL-C (p < 0.001), HDL-C (p < 0.001), and VLDL-C (p < 0.001).
Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress: Relative to controls, goji berry group showed a statistically significant increase in glutathione (5.1% increase, p < 0.001) and CAT (22.6% increase, p < 0.001) levels from baseline to the end of the study. Total antioxidant levels were also significantly increased for the goji berry group, as compared to controls (17.3% increase, p < 0.001).
No significant findings were detected in regards to biomarkers of inflammation.
In general, results corroborate the efficacy of goji berry as a natural weight loss supplement with the ability to improve body composition, enhance lipid profile, and increase antioxidant capacity, thereby reducing oxidative stress. Dietary supplementation with goji berry appears to be beneficial in protecting against the development of cardiovascular disease.
Source: de Souza Zanchet MZ, Nardi GM, de Oliveira Souza Bratti L. Lycium barbarum reduces abdominal fat and improves lipid profile and antioxidant status in patients with metabolic syndrome. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2017; Article ID 9763210. DOI: 10.1155/2017/9763210.
© 2017 Mayara Zagonel de Souza Zanchet et al. Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Posted September 28, 2017.
Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.
References:
- Cheng J, Zhou Z-W, Sheng H-P, et al. An evidence-based update on the pharmacological activities and possible molecular targets of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides. Drug design, development and therapy. 2015;9:33.
- Nardi GM, Januario AGF, Freire CG, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of berry fruits in mice model of inflammation is based on oxidative stress modulation. Pharmacognosy research. 2016;8(Suppl 1):S42.
- Yi R, Liu X-m, Dong Q. A study of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) extraction technology and its anti-aging effect. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 2013;10(4):171-174.
- Li G, Sepkovic DW, Bradlow HL, Telang NT, Wong GY. Lycium barbarum inhibits growth of estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cells by favorably altering estradiol metabolism. Nutrition and cancer. 2009;61(3):408-414.
- Bucheli P, Vidal K, Shen L, et al. Goji berry effects on macular characteristics and plasma antioxidant levels. Optometry and vision science. 2011;88(2):257-262.
- Sousa GT, Lira FS, Rosa JC, et al. Dietary whey protein lessens several risk factors for metabolic diseases: a review. Lipids in health and disease. 2012;11(1):67.
