Blueberry and fiber supplements in pregnancy obesity trial
What it found
In pregnant women with obesity, taking whole blueberries and soluble fiber daily led to less weight gain, lower blood glucose, and lower inflammation than standard care.
Cholesterol and infant birth weight were about the same in both groups.
What they found
Studies in people
Weight gain
Women in the blueberry and fiber group gained less weight by the end of the trial than those in the control group (6.8 kg compared with 12.0 kg).
Blood glucose
Blood glucose from the glucose challenge test was lower in the blueberry and fiber group than in the control group (100 mg/dL compared with 131 mg/dL).
Inflammation
C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, was lower in the blueberry and fiber group than in the control group at the midpoint and end of the trial.
Cholesterol
Total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides did not differ between the groups over time.
Infant birth weight
No differences were seen in infant birth weight between the two groups.
What the authors conclude
“Whole blueberry and soluble fiber supplementation may prevent excess gestational weight gain and improve glycemic control and inflammation in women with obesity.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that whole blueberry and soluble fiber supplementation may prevent excess gestational weight gain and improve glycemic control and inflammation in women with obesity.
How it was done
Gestational diabetes is a growing public health concern, and maternal obesity and poor diets may play a role. The authors wanted to see if dietary polyphenols and fiber could help prevent it.
They recruited 34 women in early pregnancy (before 20 weeks) who were at high risk of gestational diabetes. The women were randomly assigned to either 280 g whole blueberries and 12 g soluble fiber per day plus standard prenatal care, or standard prenatal care alone, for 18 weeks. Both groups got nutrition education and kept 24-hour food recalls.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial was small, with only 34 women. Larger trials are needed to confirm the findings.
- The results apply to pregnant women with obesity at high risk of gestational diabetes, not to everyone.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by NIGMS NIH HHS; NIDDK NIH HHS (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- University of Nevada at Las Vegas, USA; Medical University of South Carolina, USA
The paper
- Title
- Dietary Blueberry and Soluble Fiber Supplementation Reduces Risk of Gestational Diabetes in Women with Obesity in a Randomized Controlled Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Basu A, Feng D, Planinic P, Ebersole JL, Lyons TJ, Alexander JM (2021). Dietary Blueberry and Soluble Fiber Supplementation Reduces Risk of Gestational Diabetes in Women with Obesity in a Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of nutrition. doi:10.1093/jn/nxaa435Free full textPubMed 33693835DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error