Blueberry Consumption Helps Muscle Growth and Repair in Women, Study Proves

A blueberry-rich diet in women may help with muscle growth and repair. A study was done by Cornell University researchers about how the tiny fruit affects muscle function in our bodies. The team studied how serum from subjects who ate blueberries improve their potential to preserve and repair muscle mass. 

In recent years, researchers have been studying skeletal muscle progenitor cells (SMPC). They found that these cells preserve and regain muscle mass. Apart from that, these cells also known as myogenic progenitors help patients with certain conditions. People with sarcopenia, cachexia, and neuromuscular diseases could gain better muscle health with the SMPC. 

(Photo: unsplash/Élisabeth Joly)

Diet rich in blueberry

For six weeks, they studied 22 women, 12 aged 25 to 40, and ten aged 60 to 75. They let the former group eat 1.75 cups of fresh blueberries a day. The subjects ate 19g in the morning and another 19g in the evening. They asked the subjects to avoid eating food rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols. 

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After 1.5 hours of eating in the morning, the team got serum samples from the subjects. They studied how the serum affects the function of SMPC. By checking the number of cells produced, the capacity to manage oxidative stress, and oxygen usage, they found good results. 

Good effects of the fruit

Serum from women aged 25-40 increased SMPC in culture. The team also found that the human progenitor muscle cells were able to counter oxidative stress. They also found that the cells consumed more oxygen. They did not find any beneficial effect from serum that came from women aged 60 to 75.

Aging effects

The study's lead investigator, Anna Thalacker-Mercer, Ph.D., explained how aging affects the function of SMPC. She said that the worsened skeletal muscle causes movement loss, decreased quality of life, and soon, independence loss. 

(Photo: unsplash/Limor Zellermayer)

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A basis for future studies

She said that research about food interventions to help with skeletal muscle reborn in humans is very few. She also said that this preliminary study of the functions of SMPC could serve as a basis for future studies to have more clinical interventions. 

Thalacker-Mercer added that their study is an essential step in showing findings from cell culture and mice studies. Even though their study only covered a certain group of people, future researchers could use their data for potential food therapy. They could use the therapy to help improve muscle reborn after injuries and to help during the aging process. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that over time, muscles lose strength. Other than that, muscle flexibility and endurance also decrease. After the age of 30, muscle mass decreases three to five percent every decade. The rate even goes up after the age of 60. 

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By this, better SMPC function and handling oxidative stresses could help muscle reborn during the aging process. More research about the good effects of blueberries on a person's health is needed. Future scientists may focus on the fruit's effect on the heart and brain health, diabetes, exercise, and the gut microbiome.