Blueberry Immune Study

Investigators are looking for older men and post-menopausal women aged 50-70 years 2.Have a BMI of 25-32 3. Being able to commute to Loma Linda University. 4. Not taking medication or supplements that affect immunity 5. Agree to get vaccinated for Flu. Exclusion Criteria:1.  Intolerance or allergy to Blueberries 2. Regular intake of blueberries and other berries (>2 ounces per week).3.  Immune system insufficiency or disease. 4. Using immune boosting supplements.  5. Exposure to antibiotics and corticoids immediately prior to the study. 6. Participants with uncontrolled chronic diseases, and relevant psychiatric illness, including major depression will not be included in the study 7. Flu vaccination less than 10 months ago from the start of the study.

Participants must be willing to commit for a duration of 12 weeks to attend four office visits. During this time, participants are expected to attend all scheduled meetings and visits. Participants must be equally willing to consume blueberry powder or placebo powder (a powder that looks like the blueberry powder but doesn’t have the properties of the blueberry powder). While continuing their usual diet and other routines or lifestyle habits.  Participants will be asked to restrict the consumption of other polyphenol rich foods like other berries, nuts, dark chocolates) for duration of the study. Participants are expected to visit the clinic 4 times during the study (about once a month). At these visits, blueberry or placebo powder will be provided based on the group you are randomized to, body measurements including height, weight and body composition will be taken. Participants will also be completing some questionnaires. During three of these visits participants will be fasting to provide blood samples. About 45 ml (3 tablespoons) of blood will collected during the blood draw visits.

Please fill out the Blueberry Immune Study form.

Participation Form
 

The study will last for 12 weeks (3 months) from start to finish.

There is NO cost to the participants for any of the study-associated intervention or tests.

The committee at Loma Linda University that reviews human studies (Institutional Review Board) has determined that participating in this study could expose you to minimal risk. Possible discomfort may result from the blood drawings. This includes slight pain and minor bleeding or bruising at the point of needle insertion. Breach of confidentiality is also a potential risk during the study. Risks also include allergic reactions to blueberries or placebo powder.

As an incentive, participants will receive the results of their body composition assessment, which will be performed by a state-of-the-art body impendence analyzer. In addition, participants will receive $150 as a compensation at the end of the study, upon successful completion of all study protocols.  Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision on whether or not to participate or withdraw at any time from the study will not affect your ongoing medical care or relationship to your doctors and will not involve any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.

Recruitment for this study has been finished.