Strawberries decrease circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor and lipid peroxides in obese adults with knee...

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Rheumatology
• Obesity Medicine

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing concern, particularly in obese individuals with associated cardio-metabolic risks.
• Nutraceuticals, including dietary berries, show promise for arthritis symptom management, supported by observational and animal studies.
• Previous research indicated strawberry supplementation can alleviate pain and reduce inflammatory markers in knee OA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of dietary freeze-dried strawberries on obesity-related hormones, inflammation biomarkers, and lipid peroxidation in adults with knee OA.
• To build upon prior findings demonstrating strawberry's potential benefits in mitigating OA symptoms and inflammation.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
• Seventeen participants received either 50 g/day of freeze-dried strawberries or a matched placebo for two 12-week periods, separated by a 2-week washout.
• The study assessed 24 inflammation biomarkers, serum obesity-related hormones, and markers of lipid peroxidation.

Main Results:

• Strawberry consumption led to significant reductions in high-sensitivity tumor necrosis factor-alpha (hs-TNF-α) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNF-R2) (p < 0.05).
• Markers of oxidative stress, including 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and conjugated dienes, were also significantly decreased (p < 0.05).
• No significant changes were observed in body weight, obesity-related hormones, or osteocalcin levels.

Conclusions:

• Dietary strawberries effectively lowered key inflammatory markers (TNF-α) and lipid peroxidation products in obese adults suffering from knee OA.
• Given the demonstrated anti-inflammatory and potential pain-mitigating effects, further investigation in larger clinical trials is warranted.
• Strawberries represent a promising, natural intervention for managing aspects of knee OA in an obese population.