多吃藍莓真的可以降血壓嗎
Can a cup of blueberries keep the doctor away? Maybe.
一杯藍莓能保持身體健康？也許能。
Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 40 postmenopausal women ages 45 to 65 with high blood pressure. Half ate 22 grams of freeze-dried blueberry powder (equivalent to a cup of blueberries) daily for eight weeks. The others consumed an identical-looking and tasting placebo.
研究者對40位45歲至65歲的絕經後高血壓婦女進行了一項隨機、雙盲、安慰劑對照的研究。其中一半每天吃22克冷凍乾燥的藍莓粉（相當於一杯藍莓），共吃八週。另一半服用一種外觀和味道與藍莓粉完全相同的安慰劑。
The study, in The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, found that those who ate the blueberry preparation saw an average 5.1 percent decrease in systolic blood pressure (the top number) and a 6.3 percent decrease in diastolic pressure. Levels of nitric oxide, known to be involved in relaxing and widening blood vessels, increased significantly in the blueberry eaters. There were no significant changes in the placebo group.
這項發表在《美國營養與飲食學會會刊》上的研究發現，藍莓粉服用者的收縮壓（高壓）平均降低了5.1%，舒張壓平均降低了6.3%，一氧化氮水平提高了很多——一氧化氮有助於放鬆和擴張血管。安慰組的相關指數沒有顯著變化。
The improvement, the scientists write, was moderate compared with that of blood pressure medicines. But, they say, eating blueberries in larger amounts or for longer periods could increase the effect.
研究者們寫道，這些改善與降壓藥的作用相比較爲溫和。但是他們說，長期大量食用藍莓能提升效果。
The lead author, Sarah A. Johnson, a postdoctoral researcher at Florida State University, said she saw no reason for people to radically change their diet, but that if they are not eating blueberries, they might want to try them. “There is something very special about the composition of blueberries that is responsible for their effect on blood pressure,” she said. “Other fruits and plant extracts have not produced the same result.”
這項研究的主要作者莎拉·A·約翰遜(Sarah A. Johnson)是佛羅里達大學的博士後研究員。她認爲人們沒必要徹底改變飲食習慣，但是如果他們沒有在吃藍莓，可以嘗試一下。“藍莓的成分中有一種很特別的東西，對降壓有效，”她說，“其他水果和植物萃取物沒有這樣的效果。”
