Blueberry Consumption and Type 2 Diabetes

Effects of Blueberry Consumption on Cardiometabolic Parameters in Men With Type 2 Diabetes.

Lifestyle strategies that include dietary modification, such as consumption of a plant-based diet, are well recognized in disease prevention and may improve type 2 diabetes. Various components of a plant-based diet may contribute to its beneficial health effects, but there has been keen interest in the possibility that plant polyphenols may have a role. Blueberries are dietary sources of polyphenols, specifically anthocyanins. To date there are few human clinical trials evaluating the beneficial health effects of blueberries in populations with type 2 diabetes. The objective of the study is to determine if freeze-dried blueberries compared to a blueberry placebo will improve cardiometabolic parameters in men with type 2 diabetes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male
• Ages 45 to 75 years at beginning of study
• BMI >25 kg/m2
• HbA1C > 6.5 and < 9
• Medical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of insulin
• Presence of chronic kidney disease (GFR < 45 mL/min), liver cirrhosis, gastrointestinal disease, pancreatic disease, or malabsorption syndromes
• Weight loss of >10% of body weight over the last 6 months; routine participation in heavy exercise
• Heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes per day)
• Unable or unwilling to give informed consent or communicate with study staff
• Other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral factors that in the judgment of the Principal Investigators may interfere with study participation or the ability to follow the intervention protocol
• Allergies to blueberries or blueberry products