What would happen if a handful of blueberries could help babies grow healthier? A team of researchers from the University of Colorado, Anschutz, discovered that the introduction of early blueberries in a baby’s diet, especially during the period they pass from milk to solid foods, can do exactly that.
In a clinical trial, they showed that babies who consumed blueberry gunpowder showed less symptoms of allergy, quieter signs of inflammation and healthier intestinal bacteria compared to those who did not.
“For parents who begin to weave their babies, it is incredibly difficult to find solid advice and backed by research on what food saying.
These results are not a statement that blueberries are a cure for allergies and diseases, but suggest that a common food introduced at the right time can push early biological systems towards healthier patterns.
Burned test results
The researchers carried out a double -blind feeding trial, randomized and controlled with placebo in the Denver area. Seventy -six pairs of caregivers and infants were registered, and 61 completed the study (30 infants received the blueberry dust and 31 received a placebo powder).
Babies entered the trial between 5 and 6 months of age and were followed for 12 months. Its diet included 10 grams per day of liophilized blueberry dust mixed in liquid or semi-liquid foods and served as safety puree. The other group received the same amount of placebo powder.
The team collected stool samples repeatedly over time (bimonthly in the microbiome study) to trace changes in diversity and bacterial composition. In addition, they also took blood and recorded allergy symptoms informed by the caregiver in the visits to the study to measure biomarkers and immune symptoms.
When the team compared the activity of the intestinal microbe, the response of the immune system and if the symptoms of allergy improved. The results indicated in the same direction: infants who received blueberry dust had healthier bacterial patterns in their intestines, lower markers of inflammation in the blood and a notable relief of existing allergy symptoms.
It is important to note that there were no negative side effects, and the growth rates of babies remained normal, which shows that the intervention was safe and effective.
“This research supports the idea that blueberries offer significant health benefits. Only a few blueberries a day could make a difference in long -term health support,” Tang said.
Time to perform larger tests
The current study includes a small number of subjects that are mostly breastfed babies of a single metropolitan area of the United States. Therefore, researchers recommend larger rehearsals, longer follow -up and tests in more varied populations.
More laboratory work is also required to isolate what blueberry components (for example, anthocyanins or fiber) really drive the positive effects observed.
However, if these findings also remain in larger and more diverse essays, this could change the way doctors and parents think about the first foods. Pediatric orientation could eventually go beyond tradition to recommend foods that actively support the immune and intestinal health system of a baby.
For parents who want to try blueberries, “we recommend puree for younger babies. For older babies and young children, blueberries must be mixed or cut into small pieces to eliminate the risks of suffocation,” says the UC Anschutz team.
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