Eating blueberries every day reduces heart attack risk

Eating a cup of blueberries a day lessens the risk of getting a heart attack, according to new research.

The study by University of East Anglia in collaboration with Harvard academics found eating 150g of blueberries on a daily basis reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 15 per cent.

The research team from UEA’s Department of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, Norwich Medical School, is now calling for blueberries and other berries to be included in dietary strategies to combat Metabolic Syndrome, which affects a third of adults in the West.

Metabolic Syndrome comprises at least three of the following risk factors: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, low levels of ‘good cholesterol’ and high levels of triglycerides.

Lead researcher Professor Aedin Cassidy, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Having Metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes and often statins and other medications are prescribed to help control this risk.

“Previous studies have indicated that people who regularly eat blueberries have a reduced risk of developing conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This may be because blueberries are high in naturally occurring compounds called anthocyanins, which are the flavonoids responsible for the red and blue colour in fruits.”

The six month study looked at the effects of eating blueberries daily in 138 overweight and obese people, aged between 50 and 75, with Metabolic Syndrome. They looked at the benefits of eating 150 gram portions (one cup) compared to 75 gram portions (half a cup), with participants eating the blueberries in freeze-dried form and a placebo group given a purple-coloured alternative made of artificial colours and flavourings.

Co-lead, Dr Peter Curtis, also from UEA's Norwich Medical School, added: “We found that eating one cup of blueberries per day resulted in sustained improvements in vascular function and arterial stiffness – making enough of a difference to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by between 12 and 15 per cent.

“The simple and attainable message is to consume one cup of blueberries daily to improve cardiovascular health.”

Interestingly the researchers found there was no benefit of a smaller 75 gram (half cup) daily intake of blueberries in the at-risk group.

‘Blueberries improve biomarkers of cardio metabolic function in participants with metabolic syndrome' is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.