Blueberries are known to be high in antioxidants which fight cancers.Scientific research shows that antioxidants have the ability to slow brainaging processes and protect the body againstdegenerative diseases.
Many companies and research institutions are researching the benefits ofvarious foods to meet the rising demand, especially from the aging babyboomers, for natural products that may stave offfuture health problems.
The Canadian research is being done by the Atlantic Canada Network onBioactive Compounds, which is investigating what blueberry compounds can beextracted and turned into functional food products.
They say they are also researching how to reduce the commercial riskinvolved in turning the research into the development of commercially viablenutraceutical products.
In particular the researchers note that the demonstration ofhealth-promoting activity of specific blueberry extracts in animal systemshas not been done before. Another risk is that the extractionof pure bioactive ingredients in large commercial quantities for use againstchronic conditions such as stroke has not yet been done.
"Groundbreaking work will be required to develop these compoundsinto commercially viable nutraceutical products," they state on theresearch site. "The continuing growthin demand for functional foods and nutraceuticals has fostered a highlycompetitive and rapidly evolving research and development environment, withincreasing involvement of large pharmaceuticalfirms. At the same time, the regulatory environment is becoming increasinglystringent, increasing the time and resources required to bring a product tomarket."
The project has so far made agreements with Prince Edward Island's FoodTechnology Centre and private-sector nutraceutical companies so as to accessfacilities and expertise in product development.
Research has been ongoing in investigating health-protective anddisease-preventing bioactives (antioxidant, cardio-protection, chemo-prevention, anti-inflammatory, gene expression) of blueberryextracts so as to guide product development and establish evidence insupport of the health claims.
Other researchers in the network are investigating the health benefits ofrosehips, which also have high levels of antioxidants.
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