New Study Suggests Introducing Blueberries as One of Infants’ First Foods May Support Gut Health and Immune Development

FOLSOM, Calif. – A new randomized controlled trial, published in Nutrients and Frontiers in Nutrition, suggests that introducing blueberries during the complementary feeding period, or the introduction of solid foods, may support infants’ development of beneficial gut microbiota, modulate immune development and influence resolution of allergy-related symptoms. 

Complementary feeding is a critical period for establishing healthy gut bacteria and immune development, and shaping infants’ diets. Current recommendations encourage a variety of foods from all food groups, starting at around 6 months of age.¹

The trial examined different outcomes resulting from the same intervention, conducted at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Sixty-one human milk-fed infants received daily supplementation of 10 g of freeze-dried blueberry powder (equivalent to 2 ounces of fresh blueberries, or approximately 5 servings of fruit for infants) or a placebo powder from 5-12 months of age. Caregivers were recommended to prepare the powder by mixing it into infant purees or breastmilk.

The study by Glime et. al looked at how incorporating blueberry powder impacted babies’ gut microbiota. As expected with aging and introduction of complementary feeding, the infants tended to have more diverse gut bacteria over time. However, those consuming blueberries tended to have a greater diversity compared to the placebo group, more potentially beneficial bacteria, and less bacteria linked to illnesses and allergies². This research suggests that blueberries as one of babies’ first foods may support the establishment of more diverse and beneficial gut bacteria.

The study by Venter et. al assessed whether blueberries affect infants’ allergy symptoms and immune markers. Infants consuming blueberry powder during complementary feeding had improved allergy symptoms and fewer new allergy symptoms compared with those who had a placebo powder. These effects may be linked to improved immune biomarkers, including lower levels of a pro-inflammatory cytokine that promotes allergy development, and higher levels of an anti-inflammatory cytokine that reduces allergic inflammation. Although changes in allergy symptoms were not significantly associated with the cytokines examined in the study, microbiota analyses revealed correlations between cytokine levels and specific bacteria species.

Overall, the authors concluded that early blueberry powder intake may help reduce allergy symptoms and support immune development, while identifying promising microbial targets for further research.  

“These findings suggest that introducing blueberries, in freeze-died powder form during complementary feeding may potentially provide infants meaningful benefits in shaping a healthier gut and immune system,” said Minghua Tang, Ph.D., the principal investigator of this study, “underscoring the potential of simple, nutrient-rich foods like blueberries to support children’s health from infancy.”

Study limitations include its relatively small sample size, lack of follow-up and lack of use of whole, fresh blueberries to prevent risk of infant choking. Long-term research is warranted to understand the long-term health effects on individuals’ gut microbiome and immune system into childhood and adulthood.

These studies indicate that blueberry powder consumption may benefit infants’ developing gut microbiota and immune systems, and provide information to potentially inform considerations for recommending complementary food choices beyond just meeting nutrient needs of growing infants. For more information on blueberry nutrition research, visit: healthprofessionals.blueberry.org/research/.

¹U.S. Department of Agriculture & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 (9th ed., December 2020). https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov

²Soni, J., Sinha, S., & Pandey, R. (2024). Understanding bacterial pathogenicity: A closer look at the journey of harmful microbes. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, 1370818. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1370818