Wild Blueberries, from Maine and Eastern Canada, can now join the growing ranks of a new food phenomenon that industry experts call nutraceuticals - foods that deliver special health benefits that go beyond a "sensible diet."

In fact, the pigment that gives Wild Blueberries their unique deep blue color is an effective antioxidant and the subject of some 60 medically related studies worldwide. Medical and other researchers from Europe and Canada have linked the pigmentation - called anthocyanin - to reducing eyestrain, controlling diabetes, and improving circulation.

New Research

The 60 studies were reviewed by plant physiologist Willy Kalt, Ph.D., as part of her research to identify the levels of anthocyanins in the North American Wild Blueberry. Anthocyanins, part of a broader group of compounds called flavonoids, are potent antioxidants recognized for their ability to prevent harmful substances from interacting with healthy human tissue.

From the Kentville Research Centre in Nova Scotia, Dr. Kalt explains, "Just about all red or purple fruits - plums and strawberries, for example - have this substance. However, according to the research results, Wild Blueberries appear to have one of the highest concentrations of this antioxidant among commercially available fruits in North America."

Dr. Kalt notes that, "For years European pharmaceutical companies have been extracting anthocyanins from bilberries, which are a close relative of the lowbush Wild Blueberry of North America. European consumers eat these berries for health reasons. In fact, the relationship between health and the Wild Blueberry's European cousin has a long history in folk medicine. This berry has been used to treat urinary tract infections, stones and diabetes."

Now, according to Dr. Kalt, "It seems the North American Wild Blueberry, a significant source of these antioxidants, is becoming recognized as a fruit with nutraceutical benefits."

Nutraceuticals and the Wild Blueberry business

Notes John Sauvé, executive director of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA), "Natural foods such as Wild Blueberries that are rich in substances known to prevent or treat diseases have an obvious appeal for today's health-conscious consumer. This growing trend appears in the U.S. as well as in Asia and Europe where we export some 50-60 million pounds of Wild Blueberries annually."

Sauvé points out that, "The nutraceutical properties of Wild Blueberries add to the already strong appeal of these native North American berries. In addition to anthocyanins, Wild Blueberries are considered a good source of Vitamin C and dietary fiber and can be an important part of the U.S. 'Five-A-Day' program to promote healthy eating. Now we know that the deep blue pigment is a signal that Wild Blueberries are a good-for-you food."

Dr. Kalt's research was funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian counterpart of the USDA, along with the Canadian Research Council and the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. WBANA, headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine, is an association of growers and processors of Wild Blueberries in Maine and Canada.