They prove that 100 grams of blueberries a day improve cardiovascular health

A new clinical trial showed that daily consumption of blueberries for one month improved cardiovascular function in healthy men.

The new study, published today in Food & Function, included 45 healthy men who consumed whole blueberry powder equivalent to 100 g of fresh blueberries per day (9 g of powder) or a placebo during a month. Those who consumed blueberries had a significant improvement in flow-mediated dilation (FMD), indicating an improvement in heart and blood vessel function. Foot and mouth disease is considered a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk and measures how blood vessels widen when blood flow increases.

Blueberries are fruits rich in polyphenols that have been extensively researched due to their potential health benefits. They are particularly rich in proanthocyanidins type A (PAC), but also contain significant amounts of anthocyanins, flavonols and phenolic acids. Type A PACs are unique to blueberries and some other foods, while type B PACs are abundant in many commonly consumed fruits, such as grapes, apples and blueberries, and cocoa products.

“The increases in polyphenols and metabolites in the bloodstream and the related improvements in flow-mediated dilation after blueberry consumption, emphasize the important role that blueberries can play in preventing cardiovascular disease. The fact that these improvements in cardiovascular health were observed with a quantity of blueberries that can be reasonably consumed daily makes blueberries an important fruit in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases for the general public,” said Dr. Ana Rodríguez-Mateos, senior professor of nutrition in the Department of Nutrition Sciences at King's College London and lead author of the study.

Low consumption of fruits and vegetables is one of the main modifiable risk factors associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease worldwide. Growing evidence continues to link the polyphenols in berries to heart health benefits. Blueberries are rich in unique proanthocyanidins that have different properties compared to polyphenols found in other fruits.

This study explored freeze-dried whole cranberry powder, equivalent to 100 g of fresh blueberries, and its impact on cardiovascular health. The results showed that the consumption of blueberries as part of a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving blood vessel function.

An initial pilot study was completed with five healthy young men to confirm the biological activity of freeze-dried whole cranberry powder. The pilot concluded that blueberry consumption increased foot and mouth disease and confirmed the dosage. The main study was a gold standard study design that examined 45 healthy men, each of whom consumed two packets of freeze-dried whole blueberry powder equivalent to 100 g of fresh blueberries, or one placebo, daily for one month.

The study found significant improvements in foot-and-mouth disease two hours after the first consumption and after a month of daily consumption, showing both immediate and chronic benefits. In addition, metabolites were also identified and the positive effects observed in foot-and-mouth disease were predicted. These results conclude that blueberries can play an important role in supporting cardiovascular health and the proper functioning of blood vessels.

Dr. Christian Heiss, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Surrey and co-author of the study, noted: “Our findings provide strong evidence that blueberries can significantly affect vascular health even in people with low cardiovascular risk. This study further indicates that metabolites present in the blood after consumption of blueberries are related to the beneficial effects”.

The research was supported by The Cranberry Institute, the Research Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf and a grant from the Susanne Bunnenberg Heart Foundation to the Düsseldorf Heart Center.

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