Boysenberries potential key to ease asthmatic breathing: New Zealand study

A regular diet of boysenberries might help ease the symptoms of asthma sufferers, according to a New Zealand government-funded study out Monday.

Research by two government institutes suggested that regular boysenberry consumption might improve lung function by reducing symptoms associated with inflammation of the airways, which can cause conditions such as asthma, said a statement from the government's Plant & Food Research institute.

Previous studies had found that lung function could be improved by consuming fruits that contained high levels of antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols, although the underlying mechanisms behind this were largely unknown.

The new study had made discoveries on the role polyphenols played in reducing the effects of asthma and chronic airway inflammation.

"Our results suggest that boysenberry consumption may help protect the lungs and associated airways from the chronic build-up of damaged and scar tissue," science group leader Dr Roger Hurst said in the statement.

"These agents appear to support an environment capable of reducing scar tissue deposits on the lungs."

The research also observed structural improvements in the lungs through the activation of specific immune cell types that were known to assist tissue repair and retention of normal lung function.

These findings provided the first evidence that boysenberry consumption could be used to support the body's natural defenses and potentially reduce negative physical effects on the lungs caused by asthma and other chronic pulmonary conditions.

Globally an estimated 150 million people were affected by asthma, with children making up around 10 percent of sufferers. Endit