Blueberries might be healthier than we realize—the European variety can reduce the risk of serious illnesses
European blueberries, also known as bilberries, are rich in anthocyanins, which help protect against low-grade inflammation and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even certain types of cancer. The microbes in this forest superberry might offer health benefits we haven’t yet discovered, says postdoctoral researcher Kaisa Lehosmaa.
“Did you know that a wild blueberry grown in northern Finland might taste different from one grown in southern Finland?”
This is because European blueberries, also called bilberries, contain fungi and microbes that can affect their flavor and shelf life. The amount and diversity of these endophytic fungi and bacteria—organisms living inside the berry—depend on factors such as local vegetation and weather conditions.
I study blueberries from an ecological perspective. Previously, most research has focused on their health benefits. According to those studies, the anthocyanins in blueberries help protect against low-grade inflammation and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. Nordic research typically uses the wild local variety, meaning the bilberry.
The fungi and microbes in wild blueberries—called symbiotic microbes—can also support our health.
Beyond the known health benefits, Nordic bilberries may have other effects that promote well-being.
The fungi and microbes found in wild bilberries, known as symbiotic microbes, can further support our health. First, being exposed to these natural microbes can bolster our immune defenses and potentially protect us from allergies and various autoimmune diseases.
It is also possible that these symbiotic microbes directly influence the formation of health-promoting compounds—either by shaping anthocyanin production or vice versa. If that’s the case, changes in the microbial diversity within bilberries could alter their health benefits. However, this connection has not yet been studied.
It is not yet known how climate change and commercial forestry might affect the flavor or health benefits of blueberries.
The temperature of the growing site, soil acidity, available nutrients, and rainfall during the growing season all influence the composition of fungi and microbes in bilberries. Southern Finnish bilberries contain different amounts and varieties of microbial and fungal species than those in northern Finland.
Commercial forestry and climate change could also alter the diversity of microbial species. It is not yet known how these factors might affect the flavor or health benefits of bilberries. I hope to study this next.”
Expert: Postdoctoral researcher Kaisa Lehosmaa, University of Oulu.
