Wild blueberry powder for joint and gut health
Effects of Dietary Wild Blueberries on Gut Health and Inflammation and Joint Pain
This trial will test whether taking 25 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder daily for 12 weeks changes gut bacteria, lowers inflammation markers, and improves joint pain in adults with multi-joint or knee arthritis.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Nevada, Las Vegas Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | prednisone |
| Locations | 1 site (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) |
| Trial ID | NCT06828159 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults with documented multi-joint or knee arthritis will consume 25 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder or a matched placebo powder for 12 weeks, with a 2-week washout period between treatment periods. The design uses two treatment periods so each participant receives both the blueberry and the placebo at different times. Outcomes include analysis of the gut microbiome, serum markers of inflammation, and measures of joint function and pain. Safety and adherence will be monitored throughout the intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults with documented multi-joint or knee arthritis who are able to give informed consent, not pregnant or breastfeeding, not using recent berry extracts or high-dose corticosteroids, and without planned knee replacement or recent intra-articular injections are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with berry allergy, active cancer treatment, certain bone diseases, recent traumatic knee injury, or those on contraindicated medications may not benefit or may be excluded from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a low-risk, dietary approach to improve gut microbiome profiles, reduce inflammation markers, and lessen joint pain symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Some small clinical and preclinical studies suggest berries and anthocyanin-rich foods can modulate the gut microbiome and reduce inflammation, but strong clinical evidence for improving arthritis-related pain is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults with documented multi-joint/knee arthritis Exclusion Criteria: * inability to give informed consent * pregnancy or lactation * planned knee replacement surgery * allergy or contraindication to berries * recent trauma of the knee responsible of the symptomatic knee * intra-articular injection in the target knee/hip in the last 3 months * oral corticosteroid therapy ≥ 5 mg/day (prednisone equivalent) at baseline * use of berry extracts in the last 3 months * special diets * cancer treatment * bone diseases
Where this trial is running
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Omrf — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Arpita Basu
- Email: arpita.basu@unlv.edu
- Phone: 702-895-4576
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.