Great things fromt the Color of Berries: From "Sham vs. Wham: The Health Insider"

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Headline: Great Things from the Color of Berries

Scandinavian researchers have found that compounds behind the reds
and
blues of berries and fruit, whether from food sources like
blueberries
or supplementation, may protect against the ravages of inflammation.

Norwegian scientists, writing in the Journal of Nutrition, have found
that ncreased intake of anthocyanins, the phytochemical behind these
colors, can lead to a reduced inflammation response. The chemicals
are
actually responsible for mediating a transcription factor which could
be behind inflammation in a wide variety of diseases.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to type-2 diabetes, heart
disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and perhaps even Alzheimer's
disease.

A parallel-designed, placebo-controlled clinical trial was run by
this
team, involving 120 men and women with an average age of 61.
Researchers assigned them to receive the anthocyanin supplements or
placebo (simple maltodextrin mixed with blue coloring). The dosage
was
300 mg. a day of an anthocyanins supplement (derived from bilberry,
or
"bog blueberries"), and the goal was to see a reduction in
inflammation responses.

Anthocyanin supplementation showed 38 to 60 per cent decreases from
baseline, compared to four and six per cent decreases in the placebo
group. Research will be continuing in order to determine the
mechanisms by which anthocyanins inhibit NF-kB activation.

This research, and future work on anthocyanins, may translate to
anthocyanins being found more frequently in supplements.
Unfortunately, Chinese and South Asian imports have been found to
contain black bean skins meant to confuse the market by replacing
quality anthocyanins with a similar color.

As in all supplement products, stick with major brand names and
quality vendors. Better yet, buy the brands that are sold through
your
doctor or holistic healthcare practitioner.

Dave

.

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