Abstract
Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are associated with increased oxidative stress, inflammation and vessel dysfunction. Previous research has shown that an encapsulated fruit/berry/vegetable juice powder (FBV) supplement or controlled exercise training improve the markers of redox biology, low-grade inflammation and circulation. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of 8 weeks of supplementation with FBV or placebo, and a single bout of controlled walking on the markers of oxidation, inflammation and skin capillary microcirculation in forty-two obese pre-menopausal women (41 (SD 5) years, non-smokers and BMI 34·5 (SD 3·8) kg/m(2)) using a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. All assessments were made before and after 8 weeks of capsule supplementation, and pre- and post-30 min of controlled treadmill walking at 70 % of VO2max. Venous blood was collected for the determination of carbonyl proteins (CP), oxidised LDL (ox-LDL), total oxidation status (TOS) of lipids, malondialdehyde, TNF-α and IL-6. Capillary blood flow, O2 saturation of Hb (SO2Hb) and the relative concentration of Hb (rHb) were assessed at a 2 mm skin depth. Following 8 weeks of supplementation, compared with placebo, the FBV group had a significant (P< 0·05) reduction in CP, ox-LDL, TOS and TNF-α, and a significant increase in blood flow, SO2Hb and rHb. Independent of supplementation, moderate exercise significantly increased blood flow and rHb, with a trend towards increased SO2Hb. Compared with placebo, 8 weeks of supplementation with FBV decreased the markers of systemic oxidation and inflammation. Both FBV supplementation and a single walking bout improved the markers of the microcirculation in these obese women.