Strawberries Improve Cholesterol Levels

A preponderance of previous studies suggests that increased dietary intake of flavonoids – especially from berries – associates with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease.  A. Basu, from Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma, USA), and colleagues administered a beverage containing freeze-dried strawberry powder (50 grams/day), to 60 subjects (average age 49 years, average BMI 36 kg/m2).  After eight weeks of drinking the beverage, the subjects showed an 11% reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL; “bad”) cholesterol.  Total cholesterol decreased by 28 mg/dL.  Further, the strawberries also appeared to decrease levels of malodialdehyde (MDA) – a marker of oxidative stress.