Gut bacteria and blueberry compounds: how your gut shapes blueberry benefits
Official title: Examining Gut Microbiome as a Determinant of Blueberry Polyphenol Bioavailability to Optimize Dose and Phytochemical Standardization for Functional Effects in Humans
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11394570 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how your gut microbiome affects how blueberry compounds are absorbed and used in your body to impact health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,376,911 |
| NIH project number | 5RM1AT013318-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394570 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults, including middle-aged or older individuals, who are willing to provide dietary information, stool samples, and blood samples.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot consume blueberries or have conditions that preclude participation in dietary studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how differences in gut bacteria influence what blueberry compounds become in your body after eating blueberries. They will collect dietary data, blood samples, and gut microbiome data from adults to link microbiome patterns with metabolite profiles and potential health effects. The goal is to understand why people respond differently to blueberries and to identify microbiome markers that predict better benefits. The work brings together clinicians, data scientists, and natural products chemists to connect diet, microbiome, and health outcomes from blueberries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to personalized blueberry recommendations or dose guidance based on your gut microbiome to maximize health benefits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous blueberry studies show variable responses; this project aims to explain and extend these findings with microbiome data.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weir, Tiffany L — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Weir, Tiffany L
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.