Katharina Miller 1 , Walter Feucht 2 and Markus Schmid 1,*
1 Faculty of Life Sciences, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Anton-Günther-Str. 51, 72488 Sigmaringen, Germany
2 Unit of Fruit Science, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Dürnast 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
* Correspondence: schmid@hs-albsig.de; Tel.: +49(0)-7571-732-8402
Abstract
Strawberries and blueberries are two of the most commonly consumed berries. Berries, in general, are characterized by their highly nutritive compounds, including minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and dietary
fiber, as well as their high content and wide diversity of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds and organic acids. These bioactive compounds have been associated with protective effects against chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other disorders. In this paper 16 human intervention studies investigating the beneficial health effects of dietary strawberry or blueberry consumption on inflammation, cardiovascular disease or cognitive function and mental health are reviewed.
Keywords
anthocyanidins; polyphenols; berries; cardiovascular disease; inflammation
