Aronia — Can This Tart Fruit Protect the Heart and Eyes?

Aim of the study: Meta-analyses support the cardiometabolic benefits of anthocyanins in diverse populations, including people with disease, but their effectiveness in healthy participants remains unknown. We assessed their effects on surrogate cardiometabolic biomarkers and clinical endpoints across prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs; ≥50 mg/day of anthocyanins).

Results: Across 18 cohorts in 27 publications, the highest habitual anthocyanin intake, compared with the lowest, was associated with a 26% lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence (4 studies), an 18% lower risk of myocardial infarction (MI, 5 studies), an 11% lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, 8 studies), a 9% lower risk of CVD mortality (10 studies), and an 8% lower risk of hypertension (6 studies). GRADE found moderate evidence for CVD and MI. Stroke risk was unaffected. Across 65 RCTs, chronic anthocyanin intake (≥1 day) improved flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (net change: 1.41%; 95% confidence interval: 0.90%, 1.91%), while acute intake (≤1 day) improved FMD (1.50%; 1.16%, 1.84%) and lowered insulin concentrations (-2.24 pmol/L; -4.22, -0.27). GRADE found strong evidence for acute FMD effects and moderate evidence for chronic FMD effects. Lipids, blood pressure, glucose, and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance were unaffected.

Aim of the study: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older people and significantly reduces quality of life. There is currently no available treatment to reverse retinal degeneration and neuronal loss, prompting a focus on interventions that slow the progression of intermediate AMD and geographic atrophy.

Results: Although clinical trials are limited, emerging evidence indicates that dietary intake of these compounds may enhance visual function and slow the progression of AMD. This review summarizes findings from animal studies and clinical trials to identify specific berries shown to prevent or delay AMD progression, as well as those with potential therapeutic value. It also examines the key phytochemicals in these berries, how they act on macular degeneration, and their distinct properties for therapeutic use. A deeper understanding of these characteristics could enable the rational use of berries, especially wolfberry, and berry-derived components such as carotenoids and anthocyanins to improve therapeutic outcomes in AMD management.

Aim of the study: Aronia melanocarpa (commonly known as black chokeberry) is a Rosaceae species native to eastern North America that has long been recognized as both a food and medicinal plant.

Results: Aronia’s rich phytochemical profile supports diverse applications in the agri-food sector, including sports nutrition products, natural antioxidant additives, natural pigments, food preservation, and food coloring. Based on a systematic search of Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Taylor & Francis, ScienceDirect, CNKI, and Wanfang Data up to October 2025, this narrative review summarizes the latest advances in aronia cultivation, chemical composition, pharmacological mechanisms, and food and clinical applications. Despite the growing body of evidence, significant gaps remain: human clinical studies are still limited, standardized extracts are lacking, and little is known about how these bioactive compounds behave during food processing and storage. This review highlights these gaps and outlines future research directions to maximize aronia’s potential to promote human health.