US Highbush Blueberry Association
Blueberries and age-related macular degeneration in women
New study reveals blueberry consumption is associated with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration
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The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (official name: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, headquartered in Folsom, California, USA) has announced new research showing that blueberry consumption is associated with a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration. FOLSOM, Calif. – April 15, 2024 – A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition shows that moderate blueberry consumption (at least once a week) is associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a group of older women. ) was found to be associated with a reduced risk of [1].
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes loss of central vision. It is a significant cause of blindness worldwide and is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans aged 65 and older. AMD destroys central vision, which is necessary for clear vision, and the disorder can affect everyday activities such as driving, watching television, using a computer or phone, or reading a newspaper. There is [2].
Participants in this study were originally enrolled in the Women’s Health Study. The Women’s Health Study is a large-scale study that followed a group of older women for more than 10 years. Participants completed 131 questionnaires that recorded their dietary patterns and blueberry intake (fresh, frozen, or canned). We also conducted annual questionnaires regarding health conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Women with cataracts or age-related macular degeneration or with missing blueberry intake data were excluded, leaving 37,653 and 35,402 women for the AMD and cataract analyses, respectively. For AMD and cataract evaluations, the mean age was 54.5 and 53.9 years, respectively. In the early 1990s, when the Women’s Health Study was started, the percentage of people who consumed blueberries was low: 64.8% did not consume them at all, 24.7% consumed them once to three times a month, and 8.4% consumed them once a week. 2.1% used it more than twice a week. The study found that women who ate blueberries at least once a week had a significant 28% reduction in total AMD, but not visual AMD [1]. The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Howard Sesso, of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, said, “This suggests that the effects of blueberry consumption in women and the age-related macular This is the first study to assess the link to degeneration. Blueberries are a source of several bioactive substances associated with many health benefits, and this study shows that blueberries are also important for eye health. “It suggests a possibility.” There was no association between increased intake of anthocyanins in blueberries and AMD, but there was a small association with cataracts. Further investigation into the effects of blueberry consumption is needed to shed light on the physiological mechanisms underlying the efficacy of blueberries and to identify the variables that influence different clinical responses. This study was based on self-reported dietary intake in 1992, when common blueberry intake was lower than current levels [3]. A recent evaluation in a larger population of women with higher blueberry intake may provide additional information. Finally, although there was no evidence to suggest that results may differ by gender,
race/ethnicity, or other factors, this study was limited to primarily white female health care workers and may be useful in other
populations. Further research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness. This research was supported by a grant from the United States Highbush Blueberry Board (USHBC). USHBC was not involved in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the study. See below for more information on blueberry nutrition research.
https://healthprofessionals.blueberry.org/for-health-researchers/._________________________________________________________________________________ [1] Sesso, HD, Rautiainen P, Park SJ, Kim E, Lee, I-M, Glynn RJ, Buring JR, Christen WG. Intake of blueberries , anthocyanins, and risk of eye disease in women. The Journal of Nutrition. 2024,
154:1404-1413. [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Learn About Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/macular-degeneration.html
[3] https://www.thepacker.com/news/produce-crops/berry-capita-availability-growth
-shines#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20USDA%2C%20retail,to%202.3%20pounds%20in%202022.About the US Highbush Blueberry Board The US Highbush Blueberry Board (USHBC) is an organization supervised by the United States Department of Agriculture. An independent organization established in 2000 for the purpose of promoting agricultural research under the “Blueberry Farmers” Act, representing blueberry growers and packers and aiming to promote the healthy growth of the industry. USHBC has approximately 2,500 growers, processors, importers and exporters who work to grow, harvest, process and supply blueberries in a clean and safe
environment to the U.S. and international markets.
https://ushbc.blueberry.org [Contact information] US Highbush Blueberry Association Japan representative office Aviareps Co., Ltd. Person in charge: Keiko Sasaki, Daisuke Takiguchi TEL: 03-6261-5733/ FAX: 03-6261-5944E- Mail: USHBCjapan@aviareps.com
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