Blueberry

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Chronic disease prevention²

  Blueberry's anthocyanins and polyphenols may help prevent long-term diseases, but scientists say more human trials are needed.

• Benefit

  Pregnancy blood sugar³

  In pregnant women with obesity, eating whole blueberries and soluble fiber led to lower blood sugar and less inflammation.

• Benefit

  Mood and anxiety symptoms⁴

  In people with depression or anxiety, daily blueberry powder eased symptoms more than a placebo, though scientists don't yet know why.

• Benefit

  Brain blood flow and memory⁵

  In healthy older adults, 12 weeks of blueberry concentrate improved blood flow in parts of the brain.

• Benefit

  Mood and depression risk⁶

  In two studies, people felt more positive two hours after drinking blueberry, but scientists do not yet know if this prevents depression.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar control⁷

  In people with type 2 diabetes, eating blueberry helped blood sugar control, but scientists say more studies are needed.

• Open question

  Heart and blood vessel health⁸

  Blueberry supplements showed no clear benefit for heart risk factors, though some studies found slight weight loss.

• Benefit

  Mood and anxiety⁹

  In animal and human studies, blueberry supplements eased anxiety and depression symptoms, though how is not fully known.

• Benefit

  Memory in older adults¹⁰

  In older adults, eating blueberries daily for 90 days changed blood compounds linked to better memory test scores.

• No harm found

  Blood sugar and appetite¹¹

  Eating blueberries with breakfast didn't change blood sugar or appetite, though one gut hormone rose.

• Benefit

  Memory and attention in children¹²

  In children, a blueberry drink helped memory and attention two hours later, but not reading.

• Benefit

  Infant allergy symptoms¹³

  In infants, eating blueberry powder daily led to more allergy symptoms clearing up than a placebo.

• Open question

  Brain function in older adults¹⁴

  In older adults with mild memory decline, blueberry supplements changed brain scan activity, but memory itself did not clearly improve.

• Benefit

  Memory and thinking in midlife¹⁵

  In middle-aged people with memory complaints, daily blueberry intake improved some thinking and memory test scores.

• Benefit

  Gut bacteria balance¹⁶

  In people, drinking wild blueberry juice for six weeks increased helpful Bifidobacteria in the gut.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Gut cell protection¹⁹

  In lab studies, blueberry varieties and blueberry-apple juice reduced oxidative stress in colon cells better than single compounds like vitamin C.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Brain health and memory¹⁸

  Blueberries may help learning and memory, but scientists do not yet know the best way to eat them.

How it’s made and used

• Antioxidants in the blood¹⁷

  Eating blueberries with milk stopped the usual rise in blood antioxidants seen when blueberries were eaten with water.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.