Blueberry/Bilberry Juice and Blueberry Fruit Supplementation Protects DNA

Aims: The study was to investigate the protective effect of blueberry/bilberry juice and blueberry fruit on leucocyte DNA against exogenous oxidative stress.

Methodology: The study was divided to two parts which included the in vitro antioxidant effect of blueberry/bilberry juice on lymphocytes and the effect on human leucocytes after supplementation. For in vitro study, lymphocytes from 4 subjects were pre-incubated with diluted blueberry/bilberry juice. Cells were then treated with 50 μM H2O2. Comet assay was performed. For in vivo study, lymphocytes of 9 subjects from venous blood were collected before and after taking 200 mL blueberry/bilberry juice and control drinks. Lymphocytes were then stressed with 50 μM H2O2 and followed by comet assay. In another experiment, 9 subjects took 40 g blueberry and blood samples before and after 2 hours were irradiated with UV light and DNA damage was measured.

Results: Results showed that blueberry/bilberry juice lowered DNA damage in in vitro study. Supplementation of a single dose of blueberry/bilberry juice was able to decrease DNA damage by 19% while 40g blueberry fruit lowered DNA damage by 28% within 2 hours.

Conclusion: Blueberry/bilberry juice or blueberry fruit were able to lower cellular DNA damage in white blood cell within 2 hours.