Bilberries combat effects of high-fat diet

WILD blueberries or bilberries have a positive effect on blood pressure and nutrition-derived inflammatory responses, which in turn could help lower the risks of developing obesity-related diseases.

 

Findings of a recent study at the University of Eastern Finland showed for the first time that eating bilberries can counter the negative effects of a diet high in fats.

 

Bilberries, which are an integral component of the Nordic diet, are associated with several beneficial health benefits. These health advantages are linked to polyphenols, in particular anthocyanins, which are found to be greater in bilberries than in commercially cultivated blueberries.

 

Researchers studied the effects of high-fat diet and bilberries by evaluating the inflammatory cell and cytokine levels, systolic blood pressure, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and weight gain. The study involved mice fed with high-fat diet for three months. Some of the mice were given 5% or 10% of freeze-dried bilberries.

 

Besides a marked weight gain, the mice experienced detrimental changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation factors, and blood pressure. However, an altered cytokine profile and a reduced relative prevalence of inflammation supporting T-cells pointed to a reduction in the pro-inflammatory effects of the high-fat diet. Bilberries also controlled the blood pressure levels.