title: Beneficial effects of blueberries in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of autoimmune disease that presents with pathological and clinical features similar to those of multiple sclerosis (MS) including inflammation and neurodegeneration. This study investigated whether blueberries, which possess immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, could provide protection in EAE. Dietary supplementation with 1% whole, freeze-dried blueberries reduced disease incidence by >50% in a chronic EAE model (p < 0.01). When blueberry-fed mice with EAE were compared with control-fed mice with EAE, blueberry-fed mice had significantly lower motor disability scores (p = 0.03) as well as significantly greater myelin preservation in the lumbar spinal cord (p = 0.04). In a relapsing-remitting EAE model, blueberry-supplemented mice showed improved cumulative and final motor scores compared to control diet-fed mice (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). These data demonstrate that blueberry supplementation is beneficial in multiple EAE models, suggesting that blueberries, which are easily administered orally and well-tolerated, may provide benefit to MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, U.S. Veterans Administration , Edward Hines, Jr., VA Hospital, Mail Stop 151, 5000 South Fifth Avenue, Hines, Illinois 60141, United States.
authors.forename: Junping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Feinstein
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hejna
authors.forename: Stanley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lorens
authors.forename: Susan O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029798:Blueberry Plants; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D005612:Freeze Drying / Q000379:methods; D005638:Fruit; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism