Blueberries May Inhibit
Development of Fat Cells

 The health benefits
 of  regular blueberry
 consumption have been
 demonstrated in several
 nutrition studies, more 

specifically the cardio-protective benefits derived
from their high polyphenol content.  

Blueberries have shown potential to have a positive
effect on everything from aging to metabolic syndrome.
With this new study, nutrition research scientists believe
blueberries could play a major role in reducing obesity.

The research team from Texas Woman's University
(TWU) in Denton, TX wanted to evaluate whether 

blueberry polyphenols play a role in adipocyte
differentiation. It is the process in which an
unspecialized cell acquires specific features of an
adipocyte, a connective tissue cell specialized for
the synthesis and storage of fat. Plant polyphenols
have been shown to fight adipogenesis, which is the
development of fat cells, and induce lipolysis, which
is the breakdown of lipids and fat.

They wanted to see if using blueberry polyphenols
could inhibit obesity at a molecular stage. The study
was performed in tissue cultures taken from laboratory
subjects. The polyphenols showed a dose-dependent

suppression of adipocyte differentiation. The lipid
content in the control group was significantly higher
than the content of the tissue given three doses of
blueberry polyphenols. The highest dose of blueberry 

polyphenols yielded a 73% decrease in lipids; the
lowest dose showed a 27% decrease.

"We still need to test this dose in humans, to make
sure there are no adverse effects, and to see if the
doses are as effective. This is a burgeoning area of
research. Determining the best dose for humans will
be important" they said. "The promise is there for
blueberries to help reduce adipose tissue from
forming in the body."

These preliminary results contribute more items to
the laundry list of benefits related to blueberries, which 

have already been shown to mitigate health conditions
like cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

Story Source: Experimental Biology 2011 meeting
for the American Society for Nutrition on April 10 

Federation of American Societies for Experimental
Biology (2011, April 11). Blueberries may inhibit 

development of fat cells.

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,

diagnosis or treatment.