Blueberry consumption enhances vascular function but not cognitive abilities in healthy individuals: a systematic...

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of blueberry consumption on vascular and cognitive functions in healthy individuals. We hypothesized that blueberry consumption would improve vascular function and cognitive performance, so we analyzed 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 632 participants. Results indicated that blueberry intervention significantly improved flow-mediated dilation (FMD) by 1.11% (95% CI: 0.50, 1.72; I² = 23%), suggesting a positive impact on vascular health. However, there were no significant changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (reduction of 0.11 mmHg; 95% CI: -2.82, 2.60; I² = 0%) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (reduction of 0.46 mmHg; 95% CI: -2.80, 1.87; I² = 0%). Cognitive outcomes showed no significant effect executive function (SMD: 0.21; 95% CI: -0.05, 0.46; I² = 42%) or mood (MD: 1.67; 95% CI: -1.35, 4.69; I² = 10%). The findings suggest that blueberries may enhance vascular function, but their impact on cognitive performance remains inconclusive. Limitations include heterogeneity in blueberry dosage, type, intervention duration, and participant age, which may affect the generalizability of the results. Future research should prioritize larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms underlying the potential benefits of blueberries on vascular and cognitive health. This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the inclusion of blueberries in dietary strategies for cardiovascular health, while highlighting the need for further investigation into their cognitive effects.