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Blueberry

  1. 1. Healing Properties
    1. 1.1. Antioxidant
    2. 1.2. Antimicrobial
      1. 1.2.1. Antiviral
    3. 1.3. Brain Health
    4. 1.4. Anti-Glycation
    5. 1.5. Brain Plasticity
    6. 1.6. Improves cognition
    7. 1.7. Microglial Neuroprotective
    8. 1.8. Neurogenesis
    9. 1.9. Digestion
    10. 1.10. Gut Health
      1. 1.10.1. Probiotic / Prebiotic
    11. 1.11. Cardioprotective
      1. 1.11.1. Cardiometabolic Health
      2. 1.11.2. Endothelial Health
  2. 2. Disease / Symptom Treatment
    1. 2.1. Neurodegenerative Diseases
    2. 2.2. Age-induced cognitive decline
    3. 2.3. Azheimer’s Disease
    4. 2.4. Memory deficits (impaired memory)
    5. 2.5. Metabolic disorders
    6. 2.6. Type 2 Diabetes

Blueberries (Cyanococcus Vaccinium) are all native to North America, and were introduced into Europe in the 1930s.

Healing Properties

Antioxidant

Free radical scavenging.[1]

Polyphenols and polyphenol-rich foods like blueberries can reduce oxidative stress.[2]

Antimicrobial

Polyphenols such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids are found to have antimicrobial properties.[3]

Antiviral

Blueberry and other berries have proven to be effective against viral infections.[3:1]

Brain Health

The polyphenols and other phytochemicals contained in blueberries can be detected all throughout the brain.[4]

Anti-Glycation

Glycation is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD, where it potentiates the aggregation and toxicity of proteins such as β-amyloid (Aβ).

Brain Plasticity

modulates synaptic plasticity.

Improves cognition

(Prevents cognitive decline) Extract from grape & blueberry attenuates cognitive decline and improves neuronal function.[4:1]

Microglial Neuroprotective

Microglia are a type of glial cell located throughout the brain and spinal cord. Microglia account for 10–15% of all cells found within the brain. Microglia act as the first and main form of active immune defense in the central nervous system.

  • Polyphenol & anthocyanin-enriched extracts of berries help protect the brain’s microglia.
  • Decreases cytotoxicity in microglia.

Neurogenesis

promotes the growth of newly generated neurons![4:2]

Digestion

Helps cleanse the deep pockets of the intestines.

Gut Health

Probiotic / Prebiotic

There are compounds of anthocyanins in the extracts of blueberries that have probacterial (probiotic) properties.[5]

  • Blueberry extract has been shown to activate the growth of all lactobacilli strains.[5:1]
    • Lactobacilli are particularly well-recognized as major contributors to improved gut and overall health.

Cardioprotective

Consuming blueberries on a regular basis help improve cardiovascular health.[2:1]

Cardiometabolic Health

Blueberries and Cardiometabolic Health[2:2]

Wild blueberry extracts (which have a significantly higher phenolic content compared to commercial blueberries) have been shown to attenuate cardiac cell damage (cardiomyocytes) through reduction in oxidative stress and apoptosis.[6]

A blueberry-enriched diet has been shown to protect the myocardium from induced ischemic damage and demonstrated the potential to attenuate the development of post myocardial infarction chronic heart failure.[7]

Endothelial Health

There is a direct link observed between blueberries’ ability to reduce oxidative stress and improvements in endothelial function and cardiovascular health in humans.[2:3]

Blueberries improved endothelial function through reductions in oxidative stress in the body.[2:4]

Consumption of 22 grams of freeze dried highbush blueberry powder (equivalent to about 1 cup of fresh blueberries) mixed with water taken daily for 12 weeks improved the function of the inner lining of blood vessels (called the endothelium).[2:5]

Disease / Symptom Treatment

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Age-induced cognitive decline

Azheimer’s Disease

Memory deficits (impaired memory)

Metabolic disorders

Type 2 Diabetes

Prevents Ameloydβeta fibrillation.

Improves glucose regulation.

Citations:

  1. Title: Evaluation of Polyphenol Anthocyanin-Enriched Extracts of Blackberry, Black Raspberry, Blueberry, Cranberry, Red Raspberry, and Strawberry for Free Radical Scavenging, Reactive Carbonyl Species Trapping, Anti-Glycation, Anti-β-Amyloid Aggregation, and Microglial Neuroprotective Effects
    Publication: International Journal of Moleculary Science
    Date: Feb 2018
    Study Type: Human Study: In Vitro
    Author(s): Hang Ma, Shelby L. Johnson, Weixi Liu, Nicholas A. DaSilva, Susan Meschwitz, Joel A. Dain, and Navindra P. Seeram
    Institution(s): Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China; University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA; Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island, USA
    Copy: archive, archive-mirror ↩︎

  2. Title: CSU researcher presents findings in London about blueberries’ lowering effects on cardiovascular disease risk
    Institution(s): Functional Foods and Human Health Laboratory, Colorado State University
    Publication:Colorado State University College News; International Conference on Polyphenols and Health in London
    Date: May 18, 2022
    Archive ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Title: Berry derived constituents in suppressing viral infection: Potential avenues for viral pandemic management
    Institution(s): University of Illinois, Rockford, IL
    Publication: Elsevier: Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
    Date: September 28, 2021 ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. Title: Polyphenol-rich extract from grape and blueberry attenuates cognitive decline and improves neuronal function in aged mice
    Publication: Cambridge University Press: Journal of Nutritional Science
    Date: 21 May 2018
    Study Type: Animal Study: In Vivo
    Author(s): Julien Bensalem, Stéphanie Dudonné, David Gaudout, Laure Servant
    Institution(s): Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Laval University, Quebec, Canada
    Copy: archive, archive-mirror ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. Title: Extracts of Edible Plants Stimulators for Beneficial Microorganisms
    Publication: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: Biotechnologia Acta
    Date: July 2019
    Study Type: In Vitro
    Author(s): O. V. Pallah, T. V. Meleshko, V. V. Bati, N. V. Boyko
    Institution(s): Uzhhorod National University, Ukraine; Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
    Copy: archive, archive-mirror ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. Title: Blueberry extract attenuates doxorubicin-induced damage in H9c2 cardiac cells
    Publication: Canadian Science Publishing: Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
    Date: July 2019
    Study Type: Human Study: In Vitro
    Author(s): Yue Sun, Ashley S. Nemec-Bakk, Azim U. Mallik, Ashim K. Bagchi, Pawan K. Singal, Neelam Khaper
    Institution(s): Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
    Copy: archive, archive-mirror ↩︎

  7. Title: Blueberry-Enriched Diet Protects Rat Heart from Ischemic Damage
    Publication: PLOS One
    Date: June 2009
    Study Type: Animal Study: In Vivo
    Author(s): Ismayil Ahmet, Edward Spangler, Barbara Shukitt-Hale, Magdalena Juhaszova, Steven J. Sollott, James A. Joseph, Donald K. Ingram, Mark Talan
    Institution(s): National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
    Copy: archive, archive-mirror ↩︎