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Greater intake of blueberries considerably decreases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, while a remarkable dietary intake of anthocyanins inversely correlates with cataract incidents.
2024 The Journal of Nutrition Intake of Blueberries, Anthocyanins, and Risk of Eye Disease in Women Sesso HD, Rautiainen S, Park SJ, Kim E, Lee IM, Glynn RJ, et al.
Cohort Study Age-Related Macular Degeneration Anthocyanins Blueberry
Middle-aged and older women, numbering 36,653 and 35,402 originally without cataract and AMD, provided data for the study via semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires. Insights were derived on the consumption of blueberries by these women, with frequency varied from none to over two servings weekly. Additionally, total anthocyanin consumption was analysed, with major subclasses adjusted for energy and then into quintiles. Self-reported risk factors for eye diseases were adjusted in the multivariable hazard ratios.
On analysis, it was found that a significant portion of participants consumed a minimum of one serving of blueberries weekly. Thus, compared to no blueberry intake, it was observed that those consuming the fruit exhibited a decrease in the total instances of AMD, while visually significant AMD remained unaffected. Furthermore, dietary anthocyanin showed a modest yet significant inverse association with cataract occurrences, but no notable correlation with AMD.
Blueberry consumption significantly improves two-back test accuracy, suggesting potential cognitive benefits.
2023 CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Potential Effect of Blueberry on Cognitive Health and Mood State based on Human Intervention Studies: Systematic Review and Mini Meta-Analysis Soveid N, Barkhidarian B, Moradi S, Gholami F, Rasaei N, Himmerich H, et al.
Meta-Analysis Blueberry Cognitive Function
Methodology: A comprehensive search was conducted in April 2021 for relevant clinical trials on blueberry supplementation and its effects on cognitive performance and mood. The search was conducted through PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, and the random effect size was used to estimate the pooled effect size. Cochrane Q test and I-squared tests were used to evaluate heterogeneity between studies, and a subgroup analysis was done to detect potential sources of such heterogeneity. Fourteen randomized trials were included in the quantitative analysis, and six were pooled for statistical analysis.
Results: Blueberry intervention did not produce any significant impact on mood state score, attention task reaction time, or on the percentages of attention task accuracy. Similarly, it had no significant effect on one-back test accuracy. However, a noticeable positive effect was detected in two-back test accuracy, indicating possible cognitive benefits associated with blueberry consumption.
The anthocyanins from the Gardenblue variety of blueberries exhibit strong antiproliferative effects on various cancer cells, especially liver cancer cells.
2023 Molecules The Extraction and High Antiproliferative Effect of Anthocyanin from Gardenblue Blueberry Zhao F, Wang J, Wang W, Lyu L, Wu W, Li W
Experimental Study Blueberry
65 varieties of blueberries were collected, focusing on their nutritional and functional values. Among these, the Gardenblue variety showed the highest anthocyanin content in fresh fruit. This content was further increased through the process of ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and macroporous resin absorption, transforming it into a dried powder. Biological experiments were then conducted to determine the antiproliferative effects of Gardenblue anthocyanins on various cancer cell strains, such as cervical, liver, breast, and lung cells. Furthermore, these anthocyanins were combined with the chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin and doxorubicin, to assess any potential enhanced antiproliferative effects.
The research results confirmed that Gardenblue anthocyanins exert a substantial antiproliferative effect on multiple cancer cell types, particularly hepatoma or liver cancer cells. These anthocyanins displayed no evident toxic effects, as measured by the MTT assay, a laboratory colorimetric technique. Notably, the antiproliferative benefits were amplified when the anthocyanins were combined with doxorubicin, a treatment for liver cancer. Analysis suggests that the anthocyanins might induce cell apoptosis (cell death) by bonding with DNA in a manner that modifies or damages the DNA, thus preventing cell proliferation. This suggests potential application of Gardenblue anthocyanin extract as a functional agent against liver cancer cells.
Moderate consumption of blueberries may effectively reduce bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women.
2023 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Moderate consumption of freeze-dried blueberry powder increased net bone calcium retention compared with no treatment in healthy postmenopausal women: a randomized crossover trial Hodges JK, Maiz M, Cao S, Lachcik PJ, Peacock M, McCabe GP, et al.
Experimental Study Blueberry Bone Calcium
The research began with a blueberry dose-response study with ovariectomized rats, used as an experimental model simulating postmenopausal conditions. These rats were fed with various doses of blueberry powder, with the aim to identify an optimal dosage for bone calcium retention. The experiment then translated to a human study where fourteen healthy women, all more than four years past menopause, were examined. A baseline was established, and then each participant was provided with varying dosages of freeze-dried blueberry powder equivalent to defined portions of fresh blueberries, to be consumed daily for a series of six weeks at a time. Tracing calcium in the urine was employed as a method to monitor bone calcium balances in both the rat and human trials.
The collected data indicated that both the rat and human subjects benefited from blueberry interventions at lower doses. Higher doses, however, showed no such beneficial impact on bone calcium balance. In human subjects, net bone calcium retention increased with low and medium doses of blueberry consumption. Increased urinary excretion of hippuric acid, a metabolite of the antioxidants present in blueberries, was observed with an increase in blueberry consumption. No significant associations were found between bone resorption biomarkers and the interventions implemented in the study.
Cherries and blueberries, rich in phenolic compounds, can be effectively used in pharmaceutical products, smart foods, functional beverages, and nutraceuticals to prevent or treat diseases.
2022 Molecules Cherries and Blueberries-Based Beverages: Functional Foods with Antidiabetic and Immune Booster Properties Gonçalves AC, Nunes AR, Flores-Félix JD, Alves G, Silva LR
Review Article Anti-Diabetic Anti-Inflammatory Antioxidant
The research primarily studied the health-promoting potential of cherries and blueberries, given their high nutritional density and substantial phenolic compounds. The focus was on their ability to counteract oxidative stress markers and suppress pro-inflammatory responses, which are significant factors in chronic diseases such as diabetes. The researchers analyzed these fruits for their potential incorporation into various products such as pharmaceutical preparations, smart foods, functional beverages, and nutraceuticals.
In the discussion of the results, it was emphasized how cherries and blueberries exhibit significant biological potential. They were not only seen as effective in combatting oxidative stress and inflammation but also as potential immune boosters. The conclusions underscored the fruits' potential role as functional foods and their relevance to the burgeoning popularity of functional beverages, hinting at their promise for inclusion in a variety of health-related products.
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