Anthocyanins

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Blood clotting risk²

  In people, anthocyanins reduced platelet clumping and a blood clotting protein, which may lower clot risk.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Gut bacteria and chronic disease³

  Anthocyanins that reach the large intestine can change gut bacteria, which may affect chronic diseases.

• Benefit

  Heart and blood sugar health⁴

  Eating anthocyanins from blueberries is linked to lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

• Benefit

  Exercise performance⁵

  Anthocyanins in berries may help blood flow and recovery, but whether they boost exercise performance is still unclear.

• Benefit

  Metabolic syndrome and chronic disease⁶

  Anthocyanins may help with obesity, heart disease, diabetes and fatty liver, but how they work is unclear.

• Benefit

  Plant pigments and disease⁷

  Anthocyanins are the natural colors in berries and grapes, and studies suggest they may help protect against some diseases.

How it’s made and used

• How gut breaks them down⁸

  In the gut, anthocyanins are broken down by bacteria before the body absorbs them.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.