Wild blueberries are associated with improved cardiometabolic health across domains, including blood pressure, cholesterol, glycemic control, gut health, and cognition. The corresponding review was published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
"What makes wild blueberries remarkable is that they contain numerous polyphenols and nutrients and don't appear to exert their health benefits through just one mechanism," said lead author of the review, Sarah A. Johnson, PhD, Associate Professor at Florida State University, in a press release.
For the study, researchers evaluated 12 human clinical trials conducted over 24 years in four countries. The researchers also reviewed clinical, translational, and mechanistic research involving wild blueberries, cultivated blueberries, and a broad range of cardiometabolic outcomes.
Ultimately, they found that the evidence was strongest and most consistent for improvements in vascular function. Some studies reported benefits within hours of a single serving of wild blueberries, while others reported benefits after regular intake spanning weeks to months.
Findings linked to blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar regulation were described as ‘encouraging’, although the authors noted that more research is needed.
Other research found that wild blueberries may support cognitive performance in areas such as thinking speed and memory, and that these benefits occur after both single servings and longer-term interventions.
The researchers noted that results may vary according to baseline health, medication use, overall diet, and individual differences in both metabolism and gut microbiome. Future research should investigate factors and mechanisms contributing to individual and subgroup responses, they wrote in their review.
“Future studies should also investigate comprehensive biomarkers of cardiometabolic health and explore standardized methodological and precision nutrition approaches. Finally, evaluation and confirmation of wild blueberry phytochemicals, dosing strategies and food matrix interactions are needed to strengthen clinical trial designs and extend dietary recommendations to broader public health benefits,” they noted.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest, although the Wild Blueberry Association of North America provided travel reimbursement to attend a symposium funded by the organization.
Sources: Science Daily, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition