Obesity-induced systemic inflammation lowered by intake of encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice concentrate

Can encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice concentrate affect the occurrence of risk factors for chronic disease among overweight and obese adults? A study led by scientists from the University of Newcastle in Australia, which appeared in the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism, showed that it does.

The double-blinded, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled study on 56 adults aged 40 years and older. Participants all had a body mass index (BMI) 28 kg per square meter or greater and received six capsules of fruit and vegetable juice concentrate or placebo daily for eight weeks.

The results showed that:

• Total carotenoids markedly rose in plasma after the participants consumed juice concentrate.
• Total cholesterol, plasma, and systolic blood pressure went down and overall lean mass rose after participants took juice concentrate.
• Differences were observed between groups where plasma total carotenoids, lycopene and ?-carotene were concerned.
• Scientists saw an alteration in the gene expression of signaling pathways. These involved three genes in lipogenesis, 10 NF-kB associated genes and 2 AMPK associated genes.

The research team deduced that the encapsulated fruit and vegetable reduced systemic inflammation and improve blood lipid levels and body composition of obese individuals after an eight-week intervention. This data, according to the team, may prove helpful in lowering the risk of chronic disease due to obesity.

Journal Reference:

Williams EJ, Baines KJ, Berthon BS, Wood LG. EFFECTS OF AN ENCAPSULATED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE CONCENTRATE ON OBESITY-INDUCED SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION. Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism. June 2017;8:82. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnim.2017.04.079