Blueberries May Lower Cholesterol

High in anthocyanins and flavonols, potent antioxidant compounds, blueberries have been associated with a number of positive health effects. Researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong supplemented diets with 0.5% and 1% blueberry anthocyanins, for six weeks, in an animal model. The team observed a resulting 37% and 66% increase, respectively, in bile acid excretion. As well, sterol excretion increased by 29 and 74%, respectively in both groups. The study authors conclude that: “The cholesterol-lowering activity of blueberry anthocyanins was most likely mediated by enhancing the excretion of sterols accompanied with down-regulation on gene expression of [major receptors, enzymes, and transporters involved in cholesterol metabolism.]”