Earlier today, the Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA), Kennebunkport, ME, announced the results of new study conducted collaboratively by researchers from the National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston; and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Results from the study show that the effects of natural compounds in wild blueberries on Caenorhabditis elegans, a type of nematode (a common in vivo model for aging-related studies), might help increase lifespan and aging-related declines. The complete findings of this study were published in the Feb. 2006 issue of Aging Cell (5(1):59-68). See http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1474-9726.2006.00192.x for the full text of the article.
The study showed that natural compounds in wild blueberries might impact cell signaling and gene expression--beyond their known antioxidant effects--by reducing stress signals (a recent study found similar results directly related to cardiovascular disease; see /news/2006/04/wild-blueberries-might-cut-cardiovascular-disease.aspx). Cellular stress and inflammation are related to increased risk of heart disease and cancer. The authors of the study note that these findings lend support to previous experiments that show beneficial effects in aging-related declines and stress resistance.
"Investigation into the preventative effect of food compounds like those found in blueberries is accelerating," says Susan Davis, R.D., nutrition advisor, WBANA. "If a healthy diet containing adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables and other wholesome foods can actually prevent or forestall the development of oxidative stress and inflammation, it is possible that this would result in a decrease in the incidence of or delay in the onset for many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, macular degeneration and cataracts, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases."
