Study Finds 1.5 Cups of Blueberries a Day Shift Cholesterol, Gut Bacteria in Adults Over 60
Updated
Updated · health.yahoo.com · Jul 28
Study Finds 1.5 Cups of Blueberries a Day Shift Cholesterol, Gut Bacteria in Adults Over 60
3 articles · Updated · health.yahoo.com · Jul 28
Summary
A 12-week trial in 55 adults over 60 found that consuming blueberry powder equal to 1.5 cups of blueberries daily changed cholesterol-related biomarkers and increased a gut bacterium tied to polyphenol digestion.
Forty-eight participants completed the study, with the blueberry group taking two daily servings alongside an exercise program after a two-week washout from berries and similar foods.
Researchers reported lower post-meal LDL-related markers and shifts in cholesterol particle size in the blueberry group, while the placebo group also showed significant drops in total, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol.
The gut change was an increase in Coriobacteriales incertae sedis, a bacterium linked to breaking down and absorbing beneficial blueberry compounds.
Small subgroup sizes, possible behavior changes in the placebo group and funding from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council limit how broadly the findings can be applied.