Blueberries could hold diabetes key

A groundbreaking Canadian study on mice has revealed blueberry juice may be able to prevent diabetes in humans.

Blueberry juice halted the spread of the illness in two mice on contact with their skin, according to researchers at the University of Montreal.

The rodents were given Type 2 diabetes, which can be brought on by obesity and causes cardiovascular problems, blindness and kidney complications. The juice reduced the mice’s blood sugar levels, which are intrinsically linked with both diabetes and obesity, which it may also help stem.

The bacteria vastly increased the amount of antioxidants, which have been proven to have health-giving qualities, in the Canadian blueberry juice.

Pierre Haddad, a pharmacology professor at the university, told The Canadian Press: "This has great potential. Our discovery is major because it opens the door to a lot of possibilities for helping people with obesity and diabetes."

He added that the sugar levels in the group dropped by one-third after the mice were given the enhanced juice.

Some 40 per cent of the group of mice registered levels indicative of diabetes, with 60 per cent recording normal blood sugar levels after consuming the juice.