Finnish berries for healthJukka-Pekka Suomela

Food chemistry and Food development, Department of Biochemistry

Wild berries in Finland

•Minimum yield is 100kg/person•Highest yield from lingonberry, crowberry, bilberry•About 20 different wild berries can be used in nutrition•Only 10 % of the total yield is picked

Berries in Finland

•Wild berry consumption is 8 kg/person/year•Highest commercial value: lingonberry, bilberry, raspberry, cloudberry, cranberry, sea-buckthorn and crowberry•Export products

• strengths: pure nature, nutritional content, possible health effects

•Also currants (not grown wild) commercially important

Berries in Finland

Lingonberry

Cloudberry

http://suomalainentaimi.fi/pensasmustikkaBlueberry

Bilberry

Blackcurrant

Sea buckthorn

Nutrients in berries

Fibre promotes bowel function, prevents colon and rectum cancer,

stabilizes postprandial blood glucose levels, increases satiety, helps in controlling cholesterol levels

Vitamins C and EPhenolic compounds

Fibre and vitamins in berries

http://www.arctic-flavours.fi/fi/arktiset+aromit/marjat/ravintosisalto/ravintosisaltotaulukoita/Source: Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos 2011. Fineli - Elintarvikkeiden koostumustietopankki. www.fineli.fi

Phenolics in berries

Phenolics often possess antioxidative activity Compounds responsible for the color Compounds of the chemical defense system

http://www.arctic-flavours.fi/fi/arktiset+aromit/marjat/ravintosisalto/ravintosisaltotaulukoita/Lähde: Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos 2011. Fineli - Elintarvikkeiden koostumustietopankki. www.fineli.fi

Phenolics in berries

”Antioxidants”

Fats, proteins etc. may undergo oxidation in biological systems Phenolics in berries are antioxidants – are they active also in gastrointestinal tract or other parts in human body?

”Antioxidants”

Antioxidant may act as a pro-oxidant under certain unfavorable conditions

Potential health effects of berries exerted also – or even primarily – via other mechanisms (e.g. cellular and genetic effects)

For example, phenolics have been associated with the reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers

Fats (sea-buckthorn!)Minerals

Nutrients in berries

Health effects

Berries have been reported to balance postprandial blood sugar levels and insulin response

e.g. sea-buckthorn, berry mixtures Effects of fibre and phenolic compounds Contribute to reduced risk of cardiovascular

diesases and diabetes?

Affect liver function? Elevated ALAT is an indicator of fatty liver

disease and therefore, increased risk of diabetes

Health effects

Sea-buckthorn is implicated in the reduction of CRP value CRP is an indicator of inflammation Even a slight elevation in the CRP value seems to

indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases

Sea-buckthorn oil may decrease the risk of blood clots and relieve dry eye symptoms

Blackcurrant seed oil may protect from athopy in infants

Health effects

Health effects

Cranberries may protect from urinary tract infections

The evidence is not very strong Lingonberry could challenge the cranberry (also regarding other health

promoting effects…)?

Health effects

Blueberry – improved vision? Very popular belief among the Japanese Still waiting for the strong evidence