The researchers had 18 men (average age of 48) consume either a wild blueberry (25 g freeze-dried powder, providing 375 mg of anthocyanins) or a placebo drink for six weeks, spaced by a six-week wash-out. Endogenous and oxidatively-induced DNA damage in blood mononuclear cells, serum interleukin levels, reactive hyperemia index, nitric oxide, soluble vascular adhesion molecule concentration, and other variables were analyzed.
The researchers found that DNA damage in the men who consumed the wild blueberry beverage decreased from 12.5% to 9.6%. No changes were observed in the placebo group. They noted that future studies should be conducted to address in greater detail the role of wild blueberries in endothelial function.
