BAR HARBOR, Maine (August 12, 1999) -- USDA scientists joined leading health, nutrition, and food science researchers in Bar Harbor for a two-day health summit focused on the latest blueberry health research, and the development of a framework for future efforts. This is the second year the Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA) has organized the summit in an effort to provide a forum for researchers who are working with blueberries to hold discussions with colleagues in the United States and Canada about current findings and future collaborations.

New Research
"The Wild Blueberry Association of North America is honored to host such a respected team of scientists once again this summer," said John Sauvé. "The interest shown by premier health, nutrition, and food scientists in the potential health benefits of blueberries is astounding. In just one year alone, our network has grown to the point where were getting requests from across the country to get involved in this summit experience."

Ranked #1 among fruits and vegetables in antioxidant power, researchers are taking a closer look at blueberries for their remarkable anti-aging potential. According to Sauvé, key USDA researchers involved in the discovery of Blueberries1 antioxidant activity and potential anti-aging benefits will be joined by researchers from the University of Maine, Rutgers University, the University of Illinois, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. "Consumer interest in eating foods that help prevent disease is at an all-time high. Blueberries are now in the spotlight as a "good for you food," says Sauvé. "For great taste and antioxidant power, there1s no better choice than a daily dose of Nature's best blueberries: the Wild Ones."

Anti-Aging Properties Explored
Dr. James Joseph, Chief of the neuroscience laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Center on Aging at Tufts University, is working with blueberries to examine their effect on memory and motor skills. Preliminary research suggests that blueberries protect against the effects of age-related deterioration of the brain, such as short-term memory loss.

"The blueberry has emerged as a very powerful food in the aging battle," said Joseph. "Given the possibility that blueberries may reverse short-term memory loss and forestall other effects of aging, their potential may be very great."
In the Tufts trials, Dr. Joseph and his colleagues fed aged rats a blueberry extract for two months and saw improved navigation skills in mazes as well as improvements in balance, coordination and running speed. According to Joseph, as rats age, they typically forget how to maneuver through mazes that they previously had learned to navigate. Ongoing research will focus on identifying the specific compounds responsible for blueberries1 beneficial effects.

Nature's Antioxidant Powerhouse
Studies conducted by Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D, at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Center on Aging at Tufts University, ranked blueberries number one in antioxidant activity when compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables. (Source: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 44:701-705; 3426-3343, 1996; 46:2686-2693, 1998)

Antioxidants are natural substances found in fruits and vegetables which neutralize free radicals -- unstable oxygen molecules associated with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging.

Scientists attribute these benefits to anthocyanins and other natural compounds (phytochemicals) found in Wild Blueberries. Anthocyanins (from two Greek words meaning "plant" and "blue") are responsible for the intense blue and red pigments of fruits like Wild Blueberries.

"One-half cup of blueberries delivers as much antioxidant power as 5 servings of other fruits and vegetables -- such as peas, carrots, apples, squash and broccoli," says Dr. Prior. "While variety is still the key to a healthy diet, I'm eating blueberries regularly."

WBANA is an international trade association of growers and processors of Wild Blueberries from Maine and Canada.