Short-Term Supplementation with 100% Bilberry Products and Its Effects on Body Composition and Lipid Profile in Overweight/Obese Women

<b>Introduction</b>: Overweight and obesity are major public health concerns, often leading to increased cardiovascular risk. <b>Methods</b>: This eight-week interventional study examined whether regular consumption of two natural bilberry products could improve body composition and lipid profiles in overweight/obese women. A total of 30 participants (aged 50-60 years) were assigned to consume either 125 mL/day of 100% bilberry juice or 10 g/day of 100% bilberry fibre, while maintaining their habitual diets and lifestyles. <b>Results</b>: Although no significant changes were found in anthropometric parameters or blood pressure in either group, both interventions reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Surprisingly, total cholesterol (TC) levels rose in the bilberry juice group (from 6.41 ± 1.23 mmol/L to 6.94 ± 1.30 mmol/L (<i>p</i> < 0.001)), and in the fibre group (from 6.06 ± 1.39 mmol/L to 6.43 ± 1.05 mmol/L (<i>p</i> = 0.046)), likely due to elevated HDL-C (<i>p</i> < 0.001) overshadowing the drop in LDL-C (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Triglyceride (TG) levels did not change significantly and were still within the reference range. <b>Conclusions</b>: Notably, the bilberry juice group experienced a significant reduction in atherogenic small dense LDL (sdLDL) subfractions, suggesting a favourable shift in cardiovascular risk factors. These findings highlight the potential of bilberry-based products as a supportive strategy for improving lipid profiles in overweight/obese women.