Study Shows Positive Impact Of Wild Blueberries On Blood Pressure

A U.S. study examining the impact of wild blueberries on the blood vessels of rats with hypertension found that the berries improved “vascular tone” and lowered blood pressure. Polyphenol-rich wild blueberries comprised eight percent of the diet in the test rats over an eight-week period. The diet resulted in “a significant moderation of the increased aortic vascular tone,” the researchers said, noting that the berries affected acted the nitrous oxide pathway, increasing nitrous oxide delivery to the blood vessels, causing them to dilate or relax and thus improve blood flow. The researchers concluded that wild blueberries show potential as an effective vasodilator for reducing blood pressure.