From The NY Times, August 31, 2004.

Nutrition: Added Beauty From Blueberries
By MARY DUENWALD

Blueberries, already known to help fight cancer and diabetes, may guard
against heart disease as well, a new study suggests. The juicy little
berries contain a compound called pterostilbene (pronounced
ter-a-STILL-bean), which may have the potential to lower cholesterol as
effectively as commercial drugs do.

Dr. Agnes M. Rimando, a research chemist for the federal Department of
Agriculture in Oxford, Miss., who made the discovery, said she had
suspected that the antioxidants in blueberries might help lower
cholesterol. So she exposed chemicals found in blueberries to liver cells
taken from rats. She found that pterostilbene activates a cell receptor
that plays a role in lowering cholesterol and other blood fats.

The chemical's action is similar to that of ciprofibrate, a drug that
lowers L.D.L. cholesterol and triglycerides, which promote the development
of plaques in the arteries, Dr. Rimando said. If pterostilbene could be
concentrated into pill form, it might be able to lower cholesterol as well
as the drug but without the side effects of muscle pain and nausea that
ciprofibrate causes in some people, she said.

Because the compound appears to be effective even in low concentrations,
people might be able to get the cholesterol-lowering benefit simply by
eating blueberries. But it is not yet known how many one would need to eat.