Blueberry intervention improves metabolic syndrome risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Carvalho MF, Lucca ABA, Ribeiro E Silva VR, Macedo LR, Silva M

Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) · July 1, 2021

Recent studies have found that blueberry supplementation can improve parameters related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of blueberry intervention on MetS risk factors, including blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, and glycemic and lipid profiles. In total, 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review, and 12 studies were selected for meta-analysis. Meta-analyses of the data showed that blueberry intervention had a significant effect on lipid levels, decreasing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. We found no significant differences in the glycemic status markers and anthropometric measurements. Blueberry supplementation significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure. In conclusion, the meta-analysis showed that blueberry may be efficacious in the treatment of MetS, due to its beneficial effects on lipid and blood pressure markers.

PMID: 34139510 · DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2021.04.006