A small pilot study found older adults who ate blueberries daily for three months showed greater reductions in depressive symptoms and changes in gut microbial enzyme genes, but the mood improvements were not statistically significant versus a placebo.
01Summary
- 01The study involved 18 adults aged 65 and older with mild depressive symptoms, randomised to consume 48 grams of blueberry powder (about two cups of fresh berries) or a placebo daily for three months.
- 02Depressive symptoms were assessed with validated questionnaires before and after the intervention; the blueberry group had greater and more consistent reductions, but not statistically significant compared with placebo.
- 03Metagenomic sequencing revealed statistically significant changes in the abundance of genes related to certain gut microbial enzymes in the blueberry group, including EC 3.6.3.31 Polyamine Transporting ATPase, linked to GABA production.
- 04No significant differences were found in overall microbial species abundance, MetaCyc metabolic pathways, or short-chain fatty acid metabolites between the groups.
- 05The pilot study was published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging and led by researchers from Hebrew SeniorLife and Harvard Medical School.
02Why it matters
This matters because it offers early clues about how diet might influence mental health through the gut-brain axis, though larger trials are needed to confirm whether blueberries can meaningfully improve mood.
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