A new research study published in Current Developments in Nutrition revealed that the equivalent intake of one cup of fresh blueberries, offered as 22 g of freeze-dried blueberries, may benefit the health of overweight men with type 2 diabetes. The study, “Effect of blueberry consumption on cardiometabolic parameters in men with diabetes Type 2: An 8-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial,” was conducted at the Stratton Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Albany, New York.

The results also showed significantly lower serum triglyceride levels after blueberry consumption compared to placebo. If left untreated or not controlled, elevated blood triglyceride levels can increase the risk of serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for people with diabetes.

"To date, few human clinical trials have evaluated the potential health benefits of blueberries in populations with type 2 diabetes," says Kim Stote, MD, Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, who is also the study's principal investigator. . "Although the results cannot be generalized to all populations, they point to evidence that blueberries may be an effective strategy to improve metabolic factors associated with type 2 diabetes."

Participants were randomly assigned one of two interventions: 1) 22 g of lyophilized blueberries (the equivalent of one US cup of fresh blueberries) along with their regular diet, or 2) 22 g of a placebo powder (matched in energy and carbohydrate content to lyophilized blueberries) along with your regular diet. It should be noted that fiber was not controlled in the study, whose component influences the glycemic response.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10). About 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the pancreas produces insulin, but the body's cells gradually lose the ability to absorb and use it. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in the United States population due to aging, physical inactivity, overweight (body mass index (BMI)> 25 kg / m²) and obesity (BMI> 30 kg / m² ), all of which are serious risk factors.

Blueberries are certified heart healthy through the Heart-Check Food Certification Program of the American Heart Association. This program is designed to help consumers make informed decisions about the food they buy.

The research was funded by the United States Highbush Blueberry Council. The Board had no role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, or study writing.