DJ Jenkins and colleagues, Toronto, Canada

Metabolism. 2008 Dec;57(12):1636-44.

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Key information and results

• diets with adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables reduce blood lipid levels and minimize oxidative damage, both of which are linked to diabetes and coronary heart disease

• subjects who had followed a diet including fruits, vegetables, soy, prebiotic viscous fiber, plant sterols, and nuts for 2 years received supplements of strawberries (454 g/day) in a 1-month study

• strawberry supplementation resulted in significant further reductions of blood LDL cholesterol

• strawberries also improved taste of the diet and compliance for staying on the dietary plan

• strawberry supplementation may have reduced oxidative damage to LDL while maintaining reductions in blood lipids and enhancing dietary compliance

• Conclusion: adding certain fruits like strawberries may improve the overall health effectiveness of diets designed to lower risk of coronary heart disease
  

Other strawberry health research

Since 1929, over 1000 individual research reports have been published on strawberries, with nearly 10% of the total just in 2008, indicating accelerating research interest.

Strawberries have a compelling health story that includes emerging research evidence for lowering risk against varied diseases other than high blood cholesterol (above).

Below is a list of ongoing disease research involving strawberries:

• thrombosis (susceptibility to blood clots and embolism)

• chronic inflammation (associated with the onset of numerous diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and arthritis)

• initiation, progression and proliferation of several types of cancers

• several symptoms of premature aging (e.g., skin disorders, visual decline)