A study published in the journal Nutrition Research revealed that bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) can prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases. In the study, a team of researchers from Slovakia, Portugal, and Poland looked at the effect of bilberry consumption on cardiovascular disease.

• Cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading causes of death, can be prevented and improved by making healthy lifestyle changes, including dietary changes.
• In the study, the research team hypothesized that regular consumption of bilberries can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases by reducing the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides and increasing the levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL).
• For the study, the researchers recruited 25 women and 11 men who consumed 150 grams (g) of frozen bilberries three times a week for six weeks.
• The research team measured the anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose, liver enzymes, creatinine, albumin, magnesium, and antiradical activity of the participants.
• No significant changes were found for anthropometric indicators except for the body mass index (BMI) of women.
• In addition, regular intake of bilberries resulted in reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, glucose, albumin, and glutamyltransferase.
• It also led to a significant increase in HDL cholesterol.
• In men, favorable changes were observed in total cholesterol, glucose, albumin , aspartate aminotransferase, glutamyltransferase, and HDL.

In conclusion, the findings of the study suggest that regular consumption of bilberries can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease as it reduces LDL and triglycerides levels and increases HDL levels.

Read more studies on how to prevent heart disease by visiting HeartDisease.news.

Journal Reference:

Habanova M, Saraiva JA, Haban M, Schwarzova M, Chlebo P, Predna L, Gazo J, Wyka J. INTAKE OF BILBERRIES (VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS L.) REDUCED RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE BY INDUCING FAVORABLE CHANGES IN LIPOPROTEIN PROFILES. Nutrition Research. December 2016; 36(12): 1415-1422. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.11.010