Blueberry
Blueberry has been studied in 11 papers since 2013: 4 trials and 3 observational studies in people, 2 in animals, 1 review. The newest paper, Oct 31, 2025: “Berries derived Polyphenols and Bone Health: A Systematic Review”.
11 papers study it14 findingsUpdated
See all 11 papers on blueberry
At a glance
The findings reach people, from one lab or study; independent labs found the same change in worms or flies. 8 independent labs in 2 countries; 15 trials, none about aging, 12 with no results posted.
“Participants whose diet was supplemented with blueberry powder exhibited significant reductions in total HDL-P (p = 0.021) and ApoA-I (p = 0.010).”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 8 independent labs in 2 countries
- 15 trials, none about aging, 12 with no results posted
- Funders: National Institutes of Health and others
- 4 of 19 findings with company ties
- Human trial4
- Humans3
- Animals2
Studies in people
3 studies gave blueberry to people and measured what changed.
| What changed | Design | People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
up: Increases Coriobacteriales incertae sedis abundance down: Decreases APOA1 | Randomized trial12 weeks | 55 peopleBoth>60 yearsSedentary older women and men with overweight and moderate obesity | Nutrients, Mar 29, 2025 |
| Randomized trial90 days | 38 people60-75 yearsOlder adults | Food & function, Dec 17, 2020 | |
down: Decreases cognitive symptoms up: Improves memory discrimination | Randomized trial24 weeks | BothelderlyOlder adults; older adults with subjective cognitive impairment | Neurobiology of aging, Dec 12, 2017 |
What did lifespan studies of blueberry find?
DrugAgeDrugAge records 5 results from 3 papers: 4 in C. elegans and 1 in D. melanogaster. Average lifespan is the mean or the median, as each paper reports it.
What did studies of blueberry find?
13Studies of blueberry measured 13 outcomes, among them whole body bone mineral density, total HDL-P and Coriobacteriales incertae sedis.
Whole body bone mineral density
upin humans1
1 study
Whole body bone mineral density
upin humans1
Blueberry increases whole body bone mineral density in humans (small randomized trials).
“Small randomized trials suggested modest benefits of blackcurrant and blueberry on whole-body BMD, bone turnover markers, and calcium retention”
Reviewsmall randomized trialsbone
Berries derived Polyphenols and Bone Health: A Systematic Review
Nutrients
Total HDL-P
downin humans1
1 study
Total HDL-P
downin humans1
Blueberry decreases total HDL-P in humans within blueberry group, baseline vs 12 weeks.
“the blueberry group exhibited significant reductions in total HDL-P and ApoA-I after 12 weeks compared to baseline”
Human trialwithin blueberry group, baseline vs 12 weekslyophilized blueberry powder12 weeksn = 15
Nutrients
Coriobacteriales incertae sedis
upin humans1
1 study
Coriobacteriales incertae sedis
upin humans1
Blueberry increases Coriobacteriales incertae sedis in humans within blueberry group, baseline vs 12 weeks (p = 0.049).
“in subjects whose diet included blueberry powder, there was a significant enrichment (p = 0.049) in the relative abundance of Coriobacteriales incertae sedis”
Human trialwithin blueberry group, baseline vs 12 weekslyophilized blueberry powder12 weeksn = 15
Nutrients
APOA1
downin humans1
1 study
APOA1
downin humans1
Blueberry decreases APOA1 in humans.
“Participants whose diet was supplemented with blueberry powder exhibited significant reductions in total HDL-P (p = 0.021) and ApoA-I (p = 0.010).”
Human trial12 weeks
Nutrients
Coriobacteriales incertae sedis abundance
upin humans1
1 study
Coriobacteriales incertae sedis abundance
upin humans1
Blueberry increases Coriobacteriales incertae sedis abundance in humans.
“Looking at individual bacterial taxa, however, Coriobacteriales incertae sedis was identified as the sole significantly enriched microbe in the blueberry group after treatment (adjusted p-value of 0.049”
Human trial12 weeksn = 38
Nutrients
Cataract
no changein humans1
1 study
Cataract
no changein humans1
Blueberry was not clearly linked with cataract in humans.
“A similar magnitude of HRs were found for visually significant AMD (Ptrend = 0.012) but not for cataract.”
Humansmean follow-up of 11 yfemalesn = 35,402
Intake of Blueberries, Anthocyanins, and Risk of Eye Disease in Women
The Journal of nutrition
Circulating phenolic compounds
upin humans1
1 study
Circulating phenolic compounds
upin humans1
Blueberry increases circulating phenolic compounds in humans.
“concentrations were significantly altered after 90 days of BB consumption compared to control”
Human trialfreeze-dried24 g d−190 daysn = 38
Blueberry phenolics are associated with cognitive enhancement in supplemented healthy older adults
Food & function
TNF-alpha
downin rat cells1
1 study
TNF-alpha
downin rat cells1
Blueberry decreases TNF-alpha in rat cells (LPS-induced, in vitro, with serum from BB-fed rats).
“BB supplementation attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite and tumor necrosis factor-alpha”
CellsLPS-induced, in vitro, with serum from BB-fed rats2% diet2% of diet8 weeks
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Increase in working and reference memory errors
downin rats1
1 study
Increase in working and reference memory errors
downin rats1
Blueberry prevents increase in working and reference memory errors in good performers at baseline (p < .05 for control-fed increase).
“The control-fed good performers committed more working and reference memory errors in the post-test than pretest (p < .05), whereas the BB-fed good performers showed no change.”
Animalsin good performers at baseline2% diet2% of diet8 weeks
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Radial arm water maze latency
downin rats1
1 study
Radial arm water maze latency
downin rats1
Blueberry decreases radial arm water maze latency in poor performers at baseline (p < .05).
“Latency in the radial arm water maze was significantly reduced in the BB-fed poor performers (p < .05)”
Animalsin poor performers at baseline2% diet2% of diet8 weeks
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Memory discrimination
upin humans1
1 study
Memory discrimination
upin humans1
Blueberry improves memory discrimination in humans (older adults with subjective cognitive impairment).
“the BB group showed improved memory discrimination (p = 0.04), indicating that supplementation improved cognition”
Human trialolder adults with subjective cognitive impairment24 weeks
Neurobiology of aging
Cognitive symptoms
downin humans1
1 study
Cognitive symptoms
downin humans1
Blueberry decreases cognitive symptoms in humans (older adults with subjective cognitive impairment).
“The FO (p = 0.03) and BB (p = 0.05) groups reported fewer cognitive symptoms”
Human trialolder adults with subjective cognitive impairment24 weeks
Neurobiology of aging
All 13Fewer
What is blueberry linked with?
1Studies link blueberry with age-related macular degeneration.
Age-related macular degeneration
downin humans1HR 0.68
1 study
Age-related macular degeneration
downin humans1HR 0.68
Blueberry is linked with a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration in humans (compared to no blueberry intake) (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.47, 0.98).
“those consuming ≥1 servings/wk had an HR of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.98).”
Humanscompared to no blueberry intake≥1 servings/wkmean follow-up of 11 yfemalesn = 36,653
Intake of Blueberries, Anthocyanins, and Risk of Eye Disease in Women
The Journal of nutrition
Has blueberry been tested in people?
0 of 15 about agingYes: 4 trials and 3 observational studies in people have been published, and 15 trials are registered.
In trials
Motor Activity
No phaseCompleted4 trials
No phaseCompleted2 trials
No phaseCompleted2 trials
No phaseCompleted1 trial
No phaseRecruiting1 trial
No phaseCompleted1 trial
All 16Fewer
Trial sponsors
Company1 trial200 people
3 trials349 people
1 trial84 people
1 trial55 people
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
1 trial40 people
1 trial36 people
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
1 trial34 people
University of Central Lancashire
1 trial30 people
Funding
3 grants since 2018National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine$1.5MNational Science Foundation$709KNatural Science Foundation of Hunan Province
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan ProvinceHunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention2025
National Science FoundationTennessee State University$709K2022–2025
Biological signatures of blueberry derived microbial metabolites
National Center for Complementary and Alternative MedicineUniversity of Utah$381K2018–2024