Blackberry Flavonoid Absorption and Effects on Intestinal Bacteria

Exclusion Criteria

• •Use of blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin (warfarin), Dicumarol (dicumarol), or Miradon (anisindione)
• •Presence of any gastrointestinal disease, metabolic disease, or malabsorption syndromes that may interfere with the study goals
• •Have been pregnant during the previous 12 months, are currently pregnant or lactating, or plan to become pregnant during the study
• •Type 2 diabetes requiring the use of oral antidiabetic agents or insulin
• •Fasting triglycerides greater than 300 mg/dL
• •Fasting glucose greater than 126 mg/dL
• •History of eating disorders or other dietary patterns which are not consistent with the dietary intervention (e.g., vegetarians, very low fat diets, high protein diets)
• •Use of prescription or over-the-counter antiobesity medications or supplements (e.g., phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, caffeine) during and for at least 6 months prior to the start of the study or a history of a surgical intervention for obesity
• •Active cardiovascular disease (such as a heart attack or procedure within the past three months or participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program within the last three months, stroke, or history/treatment for transient ischemic attacks in the past three months, or documented history of pulmonary embolus in the past six months).
• •Use of any tobacco products in past 3 months
• •Unwillingness to abstain from herbal supplements for two weeks prior to the study and during the study
• •Known (self-reported) allergy or adverse reaction to blackberries or other study foods
• •Unable or unwilling to give informed consent or communicate with study staff
• •Self-report of alcohol or substance abuse within the past twelve months and/or current acute treatment or rehabilitation program for these problems (Long-term participation in Alcoholics Anonymous is not an exclusion)
• •Other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral factors that in the judgment of the Principal Investigator may interfere with study participation or the ability to follow the intervention protocol