Chokeberry

Studies in people

• Open question

  Heart and blood sugar health²

  Chokeberry did not clearly improve heart or blood sugar measures in adults, and scientists say the evidence is still weak.

• No harm found

  Weight and blood sugar³

  Eating chokeberry did not change people's weight, waist size or fasting blood sugar in these studies.

• Benefit

  Blood pressure and cholesterol⁴

  Chokeberry supplements taken daily for 6-8 weeks lowered systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol, especially in adults over 50.

• Benefit

  Body inflammation and antioxidants⁵

  Chokeberry juice, extract or powder seemed to lower some inflammation markers and boost antioxidant enzymes in people.

• Benefit

  Exercise performance in athletes⁶

  Chokeberry may help athletes' redox balance, but scientists do not yet know whether it helps inflammation or performance.

• Benefit

  Body fat and blood fats⁸

  In athletes, 12 weeks of chokeberry extract was linked to less body fat and higher good cholesterol.

• Benefit

  Blood pressure and inflammation⁹

  In people with mildly high blood pressure, chokeberry juice and powder slightly lowered daytime blood pressure and inflammation.

• No harm found

  Cholesterol and blood pressure¹⁰

  Drinking chokeberry juice for four weeks did not lower cholesterol or blood pressure in people at heart risk.

• Benefit

  Urinary tract infections in nursing homes¹¹

  In nursing home residents, drinking chokeberry juice was followed by fewer antibiotics for urinary tract infections.

• Benefit

  Skin appearance in women¹²

  Women with cellulite who drank chokeberry juice daily for 90 days saw less skin swelling and thinner fat under the skin.

• Benefit

  Heart and blood health¹³

  In older people with metabolic syndrome, daily chokeberry fruit extract improved blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation markers.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Blood sugar and weight¹⁵

  In animal studies, fermented chokeberry showed anti-obesity effects, and in people it may raise a gut hormone.

• Benefit

  Brain and memory health¹⁶

  Chokeberry juice improved learning and memory in aged rats.

• Open question

  Blood clotting¹⁷

  In lab studies, chokeberry extract slowed the clotting protein thrombin, but scientists do not yet know whether this happens in people.

• Benefit

  Weight gain and blood sugar¹⁸

  In animal studies, fermented chokeberry led to less weight gain and better blood sugar control than regular chokeberry.

• Benefit

  Memory in aging¹⁹

  In animal studies, chokeberry anthocyanins helped aging mice keep their memory and balance.

Found in some samples or products

These come from where it was grown, how it was processed or cooked, or what it was made into. They are not about the ingredient itself, so the signal does not count them.

• Heavy metals in fruit¹⁴

  Black chokeberry fruits in one region held more cadmium than the limit, along with some lead.

How it’s made and used

• Recovery after hard exercise⁷

  In young football players, black chokeberry extract changed inflammation markers and antioxidant levels after intense training.

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 one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. 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.