Strawberry powder and blood vessel health in teenage boys
What it found
In overweight or obese teenage boys, a strawberry powder raised blood nitrate levels an hour after a single dose.
Blood vessel function improved only in those whose fasting nitrate rose after a week of the powder.
What they found
Studies in people
Nitrate levels after one dose
Plasma nitrate/nitrite levels rose 1 hour after taking the strawberry powder, both before any daily intake and after 1 week of daily intake, compared with the control powder.
Fasting nitrate after a week
As a group, fasting nitrate/nitrite levels did not change significantly after 1 week of either the control or the strawberry powder.
Blood vessel function
In those whose fasting nitrate levels increased after short-term strawberry powder intake compared with controls, an increase in reactive hyperaemia index was seen. In those whose nitrate did not increase significantly, reactive hyperaemia index was unchanged.
What the authors conclude
“Taken together, these data support the concept that strawberries can provide vascular health benefits to heavier adolescent males.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the data support the concept that strawberries can provide vascular health benefits to heavier adolescent males.
How it was done
Earlier studies found that freeze-dried strawberry powder improved some markers of heart and blood vessel health in adults with risk factors. The authors wanted to know whether the same improvements could be seen in at-risk teenagers.
Twenty-five overweight or obese males aged 14 to 18 took part in a randomised, double-blind, cross-over study. They consumed 50 g of freeze-dried strawberry powder or a control powder daily for 1 week. Blood vessel function, plasma nitrate/nitrite, platelet reactivity and blood lipids were measured before and after each test period, and also 1 hour after taking the powder.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small, short study in overweight or obese teenage boys. The results may not apply to other groups or to longer periods.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of California, USA
The paper
- Title
- Effects of a dietary strawberry powder on parameters of vascular health in adolescent males
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Djurica D, Holt RR, Ren J, Shindel AW, Hackman RM, Keen CL (2016). Effects of a dietary strawberry powder on parameters of vascular health in adolescent males. The British journal of nutrition. doi:10.1017/S0007114516002348PubMed 27464461DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error