Wild Blueberries (V. angustifolium) Protect Lymphocytes against DNA Damage in Sprague Dawley Rats

The effect of wild blueberry consumption on lymphocyte resistance against oxidative stress was evaluated in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Sixteen, 5 week-old SD rats were fed a control (C) or a wild blueberry (WB) diet for 8 weeks. Anthocyanin (ACN) profile in urine and feces was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Ex vivo protection from H2O2-induced DNA damage (500 µmol/L) was evaluated in lymphocytes by the comet assay. No significant differences were detected in body weight between the WB (459 ± 21 g) and C (444 ± 20 g) diet groups or in liver weight (19.4 ± 2.9 g vs. 19.0 ± 1.6 g for WB and C diets respectively). After 8 weeks on the WB diet, ACN concentration in feces and urine was 25.9 ± 9.2 µg/g and 127.6 ± 46.3 ng/ml, while only traces were detected in plasma. No ACNs were found in rats fed the C diet. Metabolites of ACNs (i.e. gallic and hippuric acids) were present in urine and feces of the WB group. Wild blueberry consumption improved lymphocyte protection against oxidative stress. Levels of DNA damage were significantly lower in rats fed the WB diet compared to those on the C diet (11.2 ± 4.1% vs. 17.2 ± 8.0% DNA in tail, p=0.05).We have documented that wild blueberry ACNs are bioavailable in SD rats fed a WB diet for 8 weeks. Additionally, wild blueberry consumption reduced lymphocyte DNA damage from oxidative stress which may have implications on degenerative disease. This work was supported by a Cariplo Foundation Grant.