A recent scientific study revealed that regularly eating berries of all kinds, such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of frailty in the elderly.
During the study, scientists analyzed data from 357 people from China and 5,553 people from the United States, all of whom were over 65 years old. They analyzed their eating habits in consuming different types of berries and monitored their indicators of frailty. It turned out that the rate of regular berry consumption was about 45% among the Chinese participants, while it did not exceed 9% among their American counterparts.
After adjusting for influencing factors such as age, gender, weight, education level, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, or high blood pressure, the positive association between berry consumption and a reduced likelihood of frailty remained among participants from both countries.
In the American sample of participants, the protective effect was most pronounced among those who consumed between 37 and 74 grams of berries daily, with their risk of frailty decreasing by about 39% compared to those who did not consume berries at all. A similar reduction in risk was observed among those who consumed between 74 and 158 grams daily, but the researchers noted that increased consumption did not yield additional benefits.
The results also showed that consuming various types of berries had a clearer effect on reducing feelings of weakness in men compared to women.
Researchers believe the potential benefit is due to the berries containing anthocyanins and flavonoids, in addition to vitamin C and dietary fiber, which are known for their antioxidant properties and are beneficial to general health.
The researchers noted that their findings are based on an observational study and do not prove a direct causal relationship, meaning they do not definitively confirm that berries alone are responsible for protecting against frailty. It is not unlikely that people who regularly eat berries are the same people who follow a balanced diet and a generally healthy lifestyle, which may contribute to improving their overall health.
