September 3, 2009 – Biotransformed blueberry juice could fight diabetes and obesity, concludes a team of researchers from the Université de Montréal, the Institut Armand-Frappier and the Université de Moncton1.
This juice is obtained by fermentation from a strain of the bacteria Serratia vaccini, which is isolated from the peel of the blueberry. The study was carried out on mice, young and adults, prone to obesity and diabetes.
According to the results, the young mice who consumed the biotransformed blueberry juice decreased their food intake (12.5%) and their weight (30%). In addition, 80% of them maintained a stable blood sugar level for a crucial period of 4 to 7 weeks. The behavior of mice in front of food was similar to that of humans, say the study authors.
These results suggest that biotransformed blueberry juice would help prevent the onset of obesity and diabetes in humans, underlines Pierre Haddad, director of research and professor of pharmacology at the University of Montreal.
The biotransformed juice would also have had promising results in adult mice. Its effect is similar to that of metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes. In 3 days, he was able to reduce blood sugar levels by 35% in adult mice, compared to those who consumed water. After 4 weeks, the biotransformed juice also reduced the amount of food ingested (17%) and slightly body weight (5%).
Soon on the shelves?
Biotransformed blueberry juice is not yet available on the market. Pierre Haddad warns people who might be tempted to consume too much simple blueberry juice. “Even though blueberry juice is rich in antioxidants, it contains sugar and no effect on blood sugar or weight gain was observed in mice. “
Researchers must now identify the active molecules in biotransformed blueberry juice before undertaking safety studies in other animal species, then clinical trials in humans. “Depending on the funding that we will succeed in mobilizing, we are confident that, within 5 years, biotransformed blueberry juice will be able to be on the shelves or be incorporated into various fruit juices,” says Pierre Haddad.
Emmanuelle Bergeron – PasseportSanté.net
1. Vuong T, Benhaddou-Andaloussi A, et al. Antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of biotransformed blueberry juice in KKA (y) mice. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009 Aug 18.
