Consumption of bilberries may reduce the levels of glucose in the blood, and provide a means of reducing the risk of diabetes, say the results of a study.
The potential anti-diabetes effects of the berries are linked to the anthocyanin content, which may affect the action of various proteins involved in the glucose transport and fat metabolism.
Researchers looked at how bilberries may influence glucose and lipid metabolism in mice with a genetic predisposition for diabetes. The animals were fed a diet with or without supplemental bilberry extract for five weeks. At the end of the study, the results showed that consumption of the bilberry extract was associated with lower blood glucose levels and increased insulin sensitivity.