Study Shows Wild Blueberries May Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Contact: Dorothy Klimis-Zacas (207) 581-3124; David Munson (207) 581-3777
ORONO, Maine – Maine’s wild blueberries continue to prove that they are more than just a splash of tasty color in muffins and pancakes. New research conducted at UMaine suggests that a serving of wild blueberries can go a long way toward a healthier heart.
Research conducted by UMaine Food Science and Human Nutrition professor Dorothy Klimis-Zacas and her team , postdoctoral fellow Anastasia Z. Kalea, and graduate student Kate Clark shows that compounds found in wild blueberries may reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease by altering the composition and structure of arterial components, which may prevent LDL cholesterol from binding to the blood vessels. By decreasing the vulnerability of the arterial wall to stress and inflammation, antioxidants found in wild blueberries may help to create a less favorable environment for fatty buildup that can cause reduced blood flow and heart attacks.
The study, published in a recent issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, is the latest of several research projects by Klimis-Zacas that examine the effects of colorful, antioxidant-rich foods like wild blueberries on human health. Her previous work has shown that Maine’s favorite berry may also play a role in helping the arteries relax and may have an effect in reducing hypersion when eaten regularly.
Klimis-Zacas sees a healthy diet as the key to overall good health.
“Our investigation of the potential of natural antioxidants like those found in wild blueberries to combat the precursors to cardiovascular disease is part of a broader research movement to gain better understanding of the role of diet in disease prevention,” said Klimis-Zacas.