Eating blueberries could help fight obesityslowing down the development of fat cells (adipocytes), according to a study by the Texas Women’s University in Denton (USA) that was released at the meetingExperimental Biology 2011 of the American Nutrition Society.
The researchers, led by Shiwani Moghe, analyzed the role ofblueberry polyphenolsin adipocyte differentiation, the process by which unspecialized cells acquire the characteristics of these animal connective tissue cells specialized in synthesizing and storing fat. Theplant polyphenols fight adipogenesis, which is the development of fat cells, and induce lipolysis, that is, the breakdown of fat.
The study was carried out in tissues of mice in culture. The experiments revealed that the lipid content in the control group was significantly higher than in the tissues that received three doses of blueberry polyphenols.The highest dose of polyphenols achieved a 73 percent decrease in lipidsand the smallest a reduction of 27 percent.
“We still need to test this dose in patients to see that there are no harmful effects and that they are effective ?, says Moghe.”Establish the best dose for humansIt will be important, “he adds, ensuring that it is already a fact that blueberries could help reduce the formation of adipose tissue in our body.
These new results add to the list of benefits associated with blueberries, which have already shown their ability to fight heart disease andmetabolic syndrome.
