Blueberries Improve Cardio Health, Metabolic Syndrome

STILLWATER, Okla.Blueberries may improve selected features of metabolic syndrome and related cardiovascular risk factors at dietary achievable doses, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition (2010;140(9):1582-87). Researchers examined the effects of blueberry supplementation on features of metabolic syndrome, lipid peroxidation and inflammation in obese men and women. A total of 48 participants with metabolic syndrome consumed a freeze-dried blueberry beverage (50 g/d of freeze-dried blueberries, 126,350 g/d of fresh blueberries) or equivalent amounts of fluids (control group; 960 mL/d of water) for eight weeks in a randomized controlled trial.

Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, assessment of dietary intakes, and fasting blood draws were conducted at screening and at week four and eight of the study. The decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were greater in the blueberry-supplemented group ( 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively) than in controls ( 1.5 percent and 1.2 percent), whereas the serum glucose concentration and lipid profiles were not affected. The decreases in plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and serum malondialdehyde and hydroxynonenal concentrations were greater in the blueberry group ( 28 percent and 17 percent, respectively) than in the control group ( 9 percent and 9 percent).