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Stull AJ, Cassidy A, Djousse L, Johnson SA, Krikorian R, Lampe JW, Mukamal KJ, Nieman DC, Porter Starr KN, Rasmussen H, Rimm EB, Stote KS, Tangney C. The state of the science on the health benefits of blueberries: a perspective. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1415737. [PMID: 38919390 PMCID: PMC11196611 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1415737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that blueberry consumption is associated with a variety of health benefits. It has been suggested that regular consumption of blueberries can support and/or protect against cardiovascular disease and function, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and brain and cognitive function in individuals with health conditions and age-related decline. Further, mechanistic investigations highlight the role of blueberry anthocyanins in mediating these health benefits, in part through interactions with gut microbiota. Also, nutritional interventions with blueberries have demonstrated the ability to improve recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage, attributable to anti-inflammatory effects. Despite these advancements in blueberry health research, research gaps persist which affects the generalizability of findings from clinical trials. To evaluate the current state of knowledge and research gaps, a blueberry health roundtable with scientific experts convened in Washington, DC (December 6-7, 2022). Discussions centered around five research domains: cardiovascular health, pre-diabetes and diabetes, brain health and cognitive function, gut health, and exercise recovery. This article synthesizes the outcomes of a blueberry research roundtable discussion among researchers in these domains, offering insights into the health benefits of blueberries and delineating research gaps and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- April J. Stull
- Department of Human Sciences and Design, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Aedín Cassidy
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Luc Djousse
- Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarah A. Johnson
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Robert Krikorian
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Johanna W. Lampe
- Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kenneth J. Mukamal
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David C. Nieman
- Human Performance Laboratory, North Carolina Research Campus, Appalachian State University, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Kathryn N. Porter Starr
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine and Geriatric, Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Heather Rasmussen
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Eric B. Rimm
- Departments of Epidemiology & Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kim S. Stote
- Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Christy Tangney
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Rush University, Chicago, IL, United States
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Aljuraiban GS, Gibson R, Chan DS, Van Horn L, Chan Q. The Role of Diet in the Prevention of Hypertension and Management of Blood Pressure: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Interventional and Observational Studies. Adv Nutr 2024; 15:100123. [PMID: 37783307 PMCID: PMC10831905 DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
High blood pressure (BP) is a major pathological risk factor for the development of several cardiovascular diseases. Diet is a key modifier of BP, but the underlying relationships are not clearly demonstrated. This is an umbrella review of published meta-analyses to critically evaluate the wide range of dietary evidence from bioactive compounds to dietary patterns on BP and risk of hypertension. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception until October 31, 2021, for relevant meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses of observational studies. A total of 175 publications reporting 341 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (145 publications) and 70 meta-analyses of observational studies (30 publications) were included in the review. The methodological quality of the included publications was assessed using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 and the evidence quality of each selected meta-analysis was assessed using NutriGrade. This umbrella review supports recommended public health guidelines for prevention and control of hypertension. Dietary patterns including the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and the Mediterranean-type diets that further restrict sodium, and moderate alcohol intake are advised. To produce high-quality evidence and substantiate strong recommendations, future research should address areas where the low quality of evidence was observed (for example, intake of dietary fiber, fish, egg, meat, dairy products, fruit juice, and nuts) and emphasize focus on dietary factors not yet conclusively investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghadeer S Aljuraiban
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rachel Gibson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Doris Sm Chan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Linda Van Horn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.
| | - Queenie Chan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Zuelch ML, Radtke MD, Holt RR, Basu A, Burton-Freeman B, Ferruzzi MG, Li Z, Shay NF, Shukitt-Hale B, Keen CL, Steinberg FM, Hackman RM. Perspective: Challenges and Future Directions in Clinical Research with Nuts and Berries. Adv Nutr 2023; 14:1005-1028. [PMID: 37536565 PMCID: PMC10509432 DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumption of nuts and berries are considered part of a healthy eating pattern. Nuts and berries contain a complex nutrient profile consisting of essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and phenolics in quantities that improve physiological outcomes. The spectrum of health outcomes that may be impacted by the consumptions of nuts and berries includes cardiovascular, gut microbiome, and cognitive, among others. Recently, new insights regarding the bioactive compounds found in both nuts and berries have reinforced their role for use in precision nutrition efforts. However, challenges exist that can affect the generalizability of outcomes from clinical studies, including inconsistency in study designs, homogeneity of test populations, variability in test products and control foods, and assessing realistic portion sizes. Future research centered on precision nutrition and multi-omics technologies will yield new insights. These and other topics such as funding streams and perceived risk-of-bias were explored at an international nutrition conference focused on the role of nuts and berries in clinical nutrition. Successes, challenges, and future directions with these foods are presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Zuelch
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Marcela D Radtke
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Roberta R Holt
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Arpita Basu
- Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Britt Burton-Freeman
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mario G Ferruzzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Zhaoping Li
- UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Neil F Shay
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Barbara Shukitt-Hale
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carl L Keen
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Robert M Hackman
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.
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Madsen H, Sen A, Aune D. Fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Eur J Nutr 2023:10.1007/s00394-023-03145-5. [PMID: 37106252 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03145-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A high fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with reduced risk of hypertension; however, results have been inconsistent and it is unclear whether specific types of fruits and vegetables are particularly beneficial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the published prospective studies on fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of hypertension. METHODS Embase and PubMed databases were searched for relevant prospective studies up to 15th May 2022. Random effects models were used to calculate summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between fruit and vegetable intake and risk of hypertension. Strength of evidence was assessed using World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) criteria. RESULTS Eighteen prospective studies (451 291 participants, 145 492 cases) were included. The summary RR (95% CI) of hypertension per 200 g/day was 0.97 (0.95-0.99, I2 = 68%, n = 8) for fruits and vegetables, 0.93 (0.89-0.98, I2 = 77%, n = 10) for fruits, and 1.00 (0.98-1.02, I2 = 38%, n = 10) for vegetables. Reductions in risk were observed up to 800 g/day for fruits and vegetables, and 550 g/day for fruits, and these two associations were considered probably causal using WCRF criteria. Inverse associations were observed for apples or pears, blueberries, raisins or grapes, avocado, broccoli, carrots and lettuce, while positive associations were observed for cantaloupe, Brussels sprouts, cruciferous vegetables, and total and fried potatoes (n = 2-5). CONCLUSION A high intake of fruit and vegetables combined, and total fruit was associated with reduced risk of hypertension, while results for fruit and vegetable subtypes were mixed and need further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helga Madsen
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Abhijit Sen
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Center for Oral Health Services and Research (TkMidt), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Dagfinn Aune
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
- Department of Nutrition, Oslo New University College, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, Oslo, Norway.
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Krishna P, Pandey G, Thomas R, Parks S. Improving Blueberry Fruit Nutritional Quality through Physiological and Genetic Interventions: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12040810. [PMID: 37107184 PMCID: PMC10135188 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12040810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Blueberry, hailed as an antioxidant superfood, is the fruit of small shrubs in the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae). The fruits are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities derived from the polyphenolic compounds, particularly from the abundantly present anthocyanin pigment, have been highlighted as the major contributing factor to the health-benefitting properties of blueberry. In recent years, blueberry cultivation under polytunnels has expanded, with plastic covers designed to offer protection of crop and fruit yield from suboptimal environmental conditions and birds. An important consideration is that the covers reduce photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and filter out ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is critical for the fruit’s bioactive composition. Blueberry fruits grown under covers have been reported to have reduced antioxidant capacity as compared to fruits from open fields. In addition to light, abiotic stresses such as salinity, water deficit, and low temperature trigger accumulation of antioxidants. We highlight in this review how interventions such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photo-selective films, and exposure of plants to mild stresses, alongside developing new varieties with desired traits, could be used to optimise the nutritional quality, particularly the content of polyphenols, of blueberry grown under covers.
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Effects of a (poly)phenol-rich supplement on anthropometric, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters in participants with morbid obesity: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2022; 30:101034. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.101034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Azari H, Morovati A, Gargari BP, Sarbakhsh P. Beneficial effects of blueberry supplementation on the components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Food Funct 2022; 13:4875-4900. [DOI: 10.1039/d1fo03715c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of interconnected disorders that puts a heavy burden on societies. This study investigated the impact of blueberry (BB) supplementation on components of MetS. A...
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