Anthocyanins
Also called anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-glucoside, berry anthocyanins, Medox (brand).
Best grade B across 9 graded outcomes Other Last checked
The short answer
From 15 sourcesAnthocyanins are the red-to-blue pigments of berries and other plants. Across 41 trials, supplements modestly lowered LDL and triglycerides and raised HDL; in type 2 diabetes they lowered HbA1c. Most trials used about 320 mg a day for 8–12 weeks. They also reduced platelet aggregation, which matters for people on blood thinners.
Every graded outcome on this page
9 rows · line = participants- BGrade BBlood lipids (LDL, HDL, triglycerides)Cholesteroln 2,788
- CGrade CHbA1c, fasting glucose and lipids in type 2 diabetesBlood sugarn 703
- CGrade CMuscle soreness and recovery after hard exerciseExercise recoveryn 595
- CGrade CPlasma ceramides and lipids in dyslipidemiaCholesteroln 176
- CGrade CLDL and HDL cholesterol in dyslipidemiaCholesteroln 120
- CGrade CCRP, IL-6 and LDL in adults at risk of dementiaInflammationn 99
- CGrade CPlatelet aggregation in dyslipidemiaPlateletsn 93
- CGrade CGlucose tolerance and beta-cell function in impaired glucose toleranceBlood sugarn 68
- DGrade DBMI and body weightWeightn 11
- 6 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- Lipids
- 41 studies (2,788 people): lower LDL and triglycerides, higher HDL1
- Type 2 diabetes
- 13 RCTs: HbA1c −0.31 points at a median 320 mg/day for 8 weeks2
- Platelets
- 80 mg/day or more reduced platelet aggregation over 12 weeks4
- Bioavailability
- About 12% of a labelled dose was bioavailable; metabolites circulated for up to 48 hours8
- Blood vessel function
- 65 trials in healthy adults: flow-mediated dilation up about 1.4%; blood pressure, lipids and glucose unchanged11
- Bone
- 13 trials of anthocyanin-rich foods in adults 40+: bone turnover markers unchanged, lumbar spine density rose (low certainty)13
What it is
Anthocyanins are red, purple and blue plant pigments found in berries, sold as purified extracts.
Forms, side by side
2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Anthocyanins forms compared
2 forms| 2 forms | Purified berry anthocyanin capsules (e.g. bilberry/blackcurrant extract) | Fruit extracts or powders |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | Relative bioavailability of labelled cyanidin-3-glucoside was about 12%, with metabolites peaking around 10 hours.8 | No separate absorption data in the cited studies.2 |
| GI tolerance | Doses of 40–320 mg/day were used for 12 weeks in dyslipidaemia trials.45 | Used in diabetes trials pooled in a 2023 meta-analysis.2 |
| Studied for | Lipids, platelets, glucose, inflammation | HbA1c and glucose in type 2 diabetes |
- Purified berry anthocyanin capsules (e.g. bilberry/blackcurrant extract)
- Absorption in people
- Relative bioavailability of labelled cyanidin-3-glucoside was about 12%, with metabolites peaking around 10 hours.8
- Studied for
- Lipids, platelets, glucose, inflammation
- Fruit extracts or powders
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
9 graded outcomes, largest study first9 graded outcomes: 6 improved, 3 mixed. The largest, a 2023 meta-analysis of 2,788 people on blood lipids (LDL, HDL, triglycerides), found an improvement.
1Blood lipids (LDL, HDL, triglycerides)
Improved · Grade B · Meta-analysis, 2,788 people, 2023
41 placebo-controlled studies (2,788 participants)
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood lipids (LDL, HDL, triglycerides) | Improved | 2,788 | Grade B · Meta-analysis, 2023 | 41 placebo-controlled studies (2,788 participants) |
| HbA1c, fasting glucose and lipids in type 2 diabetes | Improved | 703 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2023 | 13 RCTs in people with type 2 diabetes (703 participants) |
| Muscle soreness and recovery after hard exercise | Mixed | 595 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2026 | Healthy adults with exercise-induced muscle damage in 30 randomized trials |
| Plasma ceramides and lipids in dyslipidemia | Improved | 176 | Grade C · RCT, 2021 | Adults with dyslipidaemia (169 completed) |
| LDL and HDL cholesterol in dyslipidemia | Improved | 120 | Grade C · RCT, 2009 | Adults aged 40–65 with dyslipidaemia |
| CRP, IL-6 and LDL in adults at risk of dementia | Improved | 99 | Grade C · RCT, 2026 | Adults aged 60–80 with mild cognitive impairment or cardiometabolic disorders (substudy) |
| Platelet aggregation in dyslipidemia | Improved | 93 | Grade C · RCT, 2021 | Adults newly diagnosed with dyslipidaemia |
| Glucose tolerance and beta-cell function in impaired glucose tolerance | Mixed | 68 | Grade C · RCT, 2026 | Adults with impaired glucose tolerance plus lifestyle guidance |
| BMI and body weight | Mixed | 11 | Grade D · Meta-analysis, 2021 | 11 RCTs |
Every graded row
9 rowsShowing 9 of 9 outcomes. Human trials only.
BGrade BBlood lipids (LDL, HDL, triglycerides)CholesterolImprovedMeta-analysis · 41 studies
n 2,788 · 2023
Improved Anthocyanins lowered triglycerides (SMD −0.10) and LDL cholesterol (SMD −0.16) and raised HDL cholesterol (SMD 0.42).
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 41 studies, n = 2,788, 2023
- Population
- 41 placebo-controlled studies (2,788 participants)
- Form
- Anthocyanin supplements
- Dose
- Varied by study
- Duration
- Varied by study
- Source
- Reference 1 · PubMed 37649528 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CHbA1c, fasting glucose and lipids in type 2 diabetesBlood sugarImprovedMeta-analysis · 13 studies
n 703 · 2023
Improved HbA1c fell (WMD −0.31), as did fasting glucose, 2-hour glucose, triglycerides and LDL; insulin, HOMA-IR, total and HDL cholesterol and blood pressure did not change significantly.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 13 studies, n = 703, 2023
- Population
- 13 RCTs in people with type 2 diabetes (703 participants)
- Form
- Anthocyanins from fruit extracts or purified supplements
- Dose
- Median 320 mg/day
- Duration
- Median 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 37810926 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CMuscle soreness and recovery after hard exerciseExercise recoveryMixedMeta-analysis · 30 studies
n 595 · 2026
Mixed Only tart cherry and pomegranate reduced soreness at 48 hours vs placebo; no supplement consistently improved strength, creatine kinase or CRP. Certainty was generally low.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 30 studies, n = 595, 2026
- Population
- Healthy adults with exercise-induced muscle damage in 30 randomized trials
- Form
- Anthocyanin- and flavanol-rich supplements (8 types, including tart cherry and pomegranate)
- Dose
- Varied by trial
- Duration
- Measured 24 to 72 hours after exercise
- Source
- Reference 12 · PubMed 42666369 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CPlasma ceramides and lipids in dyslipidemiaCholesterolImprovedRCT
n 176 · 2021
Improved All six ceramide species fell dose-dependently; at 320 mg/day Cer16:0 and Cer24:0 fell versus placebo and cholesterol efflux capacity rose.
- Design
- RCT, n = 176, 2021
- Population
- Adults with dyslipidaemia (169 completed)
- Form
- Anthocyanins
- Dose
- 40, 80 or 320 mg/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 33131908 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CLDL and HDL cholesterol in dyslipidemiaCholesterolImprovedRCT
n 120 · 2009
Improved HDL rose 13.7% (vs 2.8% placebo) and LDL fell 13.6% (vs a 0.6% rise with placebo); CETP mass and activity fell.
- Design
- RCT, n = 120, 2009
- Population
- Adults aged 40–65 with dyslipidaemia
- Form
- Berry-derived purified anthocyanins
- Dose
- 160 mg twice daily (320 mg/day)
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 19640950 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CCRP, IL-6 and LDL in adults at risk of dementiaInflammationImprovedRCT
n 99 · 2026
Improved Compared with placebo, LDL cholesterol, CRP, IL-6, IL-1β and a cardiometabolic score were lower at 24 weeks.
- Design
- RCT, n = 99, 2026
- Population
- Adults aged 60–80 with mild cognitive impairment or cardiometabolic disorders (substudy)
- Form
- Anthocyanins
- Dose
- 320 mg/day
- Duration
- 24 weeks
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 40314845 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CPlatelet aggregation in dyslipidemiaPlateletsImprovedRCT
n 93 · 2021
Improved From 80 mg/day, collagen-induced aggregation and activated GPIIbIIIa fell versus placebo; at 320 mg/day ADP-induced aggregation and platelet ROS also fell, with a dose–response trend.
- Design
- RCT, n = 93, 2021
- Population
- Adults newly diagnosed with dyslipidaemia
- Form
- Purified anthocyanin capsules (Medox)
- Dose
- 40, 80, 160 or 320 mg/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 34392146 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CGlucose tolerance and beta-cell function in impaired glucose toleranceBlood sugarMixedRCT
n 68 · 2026
Mixed No difference in the primary outcome (disposition index). More participants returned to normal 2-hour glucose (55.9% vs 29.4%), and insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) improved.
- Design
- RCT, n = 68, 2026
- Population
- Adults with impaired glucose tolerance plus lifestyle guidance
- Form
- Anthocyanins
- Dose
- 160 mg/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 41619973 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBMI and body weightWeightMixedMeta-analysis · 11 studies
n 11 · 2021
Mixed BMI fell slightly (MD −0.36 kg/m²) but body weight and waist circumference did not change overall; effects were seen in non-obese, not obese, groups.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 11 studies, n = 11, 2021
- Population
- 11 RCTs
- Form
- Anthocyanins
- Dose
- 28.3–500 mg/day
- Duration
- 4–24 weeks
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 34205642 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Doses studied in human trials ranged from about 28 to 500 mg/day of purified anthocyanins across pooled supplement trials, with 320 mg/day (160 mg twice daily) for 12–24 weeks the most common in recent RCTs and 40–320 mg/day in dose-finding work. Food-based trials in healthy people ranged from 50 to 3,300 mg/day. These are research doses, not recommendations.3456911
When trials measured an effect
4 outcomes| Outcome | Measured at | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Blood vessel function (FMD) | Within a day of a single serving (acute studies), and with repeated intake | 2026 meta-analysis of trials in healthy people11 |
| LDL and HDL cholesterol in dyslipidaemia | Week 12 (end of treatment) | One 120-person placebo-controlled trial3 |
| Platelet aggregation | Week 12 (end of treatment) | One 93-person dose-finding trial4 |
| Muscle soreness after exercise (tart cherry) | 24 to 72 hours after exercise | 2026 network meta-analysis of 30 trials12 |
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Anthocyanins meets
1 cited rowMedicines 1
Supplements and foods 0
No supplement rows in our sources.
- Measured in a human study
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited:
Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs
RCTMeasured in a human study
Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs, for example aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin (inferred; not tested): Anthocyanins at 80–320 mg/day reduced platelet aggregation in 12 weeks, and LiverTox notes bilberry may predispose to excessive bleeding in people on anticoagulants such as warfarin. Combined use with blood thinners has not been studied in trials.
Source 4, EBioMedicine (2021); Source 15, LiverTox (NCBI Bookshelf) (2019)
Interactions
1 agent| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines1 | ||
| Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugse.g. aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin (inferred; not tested) | Anthocyanins at 80–320 mg/day reduced platelet aggregation in 12 weeks, and LiverTox notes bilberry may predispose to excessive bleeding in people on anticoagulants such as warfarin. Combined use with blood thinners has not been studied in trials.415 | RCT |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Anthocyanins and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Anthocyanins.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
5 groups- People on blood thinners or before surgery
- Anthocyanins reduced platelet aggregation at 80 mg/day or more; the combination with antiplatelet drugs has not been tested.4
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
- The cited trials enrolled adults; there are no supplement safety data in pregnancy, breastfeeding or children. LactMed's entry on bilberry, a common anthocyanin source, found no data on transfer into breast milk or infant safety and makes no recommendation on large amounts while breastfeeding.3614
- People on diabetes medicines
- In 13 trials in people with type 2 diabetes, anthocyanins (median 320 mg/day for a median of 8 weeks) lowered HbA1c by 0.31 points, as well as fasting and 2-hour glucose, versus control. The analysis did not test them alongside glucose-lowering drugs, so any extra drop in blood sugar from combining them is theoretical; let your prescriber know and check glucose more closely when starting.2
- Liver
- LiverTox has not linked bilberry fruit or extracts, a common anthocyanin source, to liver injury (likelihood score E: unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury).15
- Berry allergy
- LactMed advises avoiding bilberry products with an allergy to bilberry, cranberry, blueberry or other Vaccinium species.14
How the body handles anthocyanins
2 notesMore is absorbed than once thought, mostly as breakdown products.
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksFrequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
8 answersDo anthocyanins lower cholesterol?
Modestly: a meta-analysis of 41 studies found lower LDL and triglycerides and higher HDL.1
Do anthocyanins lower blood pressure in healthy people?
Not on average. A 2026 meta-analysis of 65 trials in healthy adults (at least 50 mg a day) found no change in blood pressure, lipids or glucose, but better blood-vessel function (flow-mediated dilation up about 1.4%). Cyanidin- and delphinidin-type anthocyanins both improved vessel function; delphinidin types also slightly lowered triglycerides and pulse wave velocity.11
Do anthocyanins help memory?
Possibly a little. A 2026 meta-analysis of 59 trials of anthocyanin supplements and anthocyanin-rich foods found a small improvement in global cognition (SMD 0.46) and smaller gains in memory, attention and processing speed, with high heterogeneity in several domains. The abstract does not give the number of participants.10
Do they help blood sugar?
Are they absorbed?
Yes, about 12% of a labelled dose, mostly as breakdown products that circulate for up to 48 hours.8
Are anthocyanin supplements safe?
Purified anthocyanins at 40 to 320 mg a day were given for 12 to 24 weeks in recent trials. LiverTox rates bilberry, a common source, an unlikely cause of liver injury, with few, mild side effects such as nausea or stomach discomfort. Platelet effects matter for people on blood thinners, and pregnancy data are lacking.45615
Can I combine them with blood thinners?
That has not been tested. Anthocyanins reduce platelet aggregation, so check with a clinician.4
Are anthocyanin supplements better than eating berries?
No trial has compared them head to head. Many positive trials used foods, juices or berry powders rather than purified capsules, and a 2026 meta-analysis of 65 trials in healthy people, giving at least 50 mg a day, found better blood-vessel function at intakes its authors call achievable from diet.1011
Sources
15 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
15 sources- 1Effects of anthocyanin supplementation on blood lipid levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Front Nutr, 2023 · PMID 37649528
- 2Effects of anthocyanin supplementation in diet on glycemic and related cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Meta-analysis Front Nutr, 2023 · PMID 37810926
- 3Anthocyanin supplementation improves serum LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations associated with the inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in dyslipidemic subjects.RCT Am J Clin Nutr, 2009 · PMID 19640950
- 4Dose-dependent effects of anthocyanin supplementation on platelet function in subjects with dyslipidemia: A randomized clinical trial.RCT EBioMedicine, 2021 · PMID 34392146
- 5Dose-dependent reductions in plasma ceramides after anthocyanin supplementation are associated with improvements in plasma lipids and cholesterol efflux capacity in dyslipidemia: A randomized controlled trial.RCT Clin Nutr, 2021 · PMID 33131908
- 6Anthocyanin supplementation in adults at risk for dementia: a randomized controlled trial on its cardiometabolic and anti-inflammatory biomarker effects.RCT Geroscience, 2026 · PMID 40314845
- 7Remission of impaired glucose tolerance by anthocyanin supplementation: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.RCT Am J Clin Nutr, 2026 · PMID 41619973
- 8Human metabolism and elimination of the anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-glucoside: a (13)C-tracer study.PK study Am J Clin Nutr, 2013 · PMID 23604435
- 9Effects of Anthocyanin Supplementation on Reduction of Obesity Criteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Meta-analysis Nutrients, 2021 · PMID 34205642
- 10The effect of anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich foods on cognitive function: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Meta-analysis Geroscience, 2026 · PMID 41351717
- 11Dietary intakes of anthocyanins and cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and prospective cohort studies in healthy participants.Meta-analysis Am J Clin Nutr, 2026 · PMID 42547104
- 12Comparative effects of plant-derived anthocyanin- and flavanol-rich supplements on recovery outcomes after exercise-induced muscle damage: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Front Nutr, 2026 · PMID 42666369
- 13Effectiveness of anthocyanin-rich foods on bone remodeling biomarkers of middle-aged and older adults at risk of osteoporosis: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.Meta-analysis Nutr Rev, 2024 · PMID 37796900
- 14BilberryDatabase LactMed (NCBI Bookshelf), 2021 · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 15BilberryDatabase LiverTox (NCBI Bookshelf), 2019 · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
3 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence; safety; interactions; studied doses; time to effect; FAQ; questions; related | Added 2026 meta-analyses on blood-vessel function and on blood pressure, lipids and glucose in healthy people (FMD improved; blood pressure and lipids unchanged), cognition (59 trials, global cognition improved) and exercise recovery (only tart cherry and pomegranate reduced soreness), plus a 2024 bone meta-analysis (mixed). Added LactMed (bilberry) to the breastfeeding note, LiverTox bilberry (likelihood E) as a liver note and to the blood-thinner interaction, and a Vaccinium allergy note. Replaced two FAQ that repeated the auto-derived questions with food-vs-supplement and safety answers; added time-to-effect rows, questions this page answers and goal hub links. LactMed and LiverTox have no anthocyanin entry; bilberry entries used. A 2024 dose-response meta-analysis on inflammatory markers (PMID 38272574) was left out because its abstract gives neither the number of trials nor participants. Fact-check: the FMD, blood pressure/lipids, cognition and bone meta-analysis rows were removed because their n was the trial count and no participant total is given in the abstracts or PMC full text (bone review not in PMC); their findings are kept as key facts and FAQ answers that state the number of trials. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review (first draft). Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (titles and years taken from the record) and the abstract read for each cited row. Studied doses are reported as research doses, not dosing advice. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
| who should avoid | Added a caution for people on diabetes medicines (theoretical additive glucose lowering), sourced to PMID 37810926; abstract re-read via NCBI efetch. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: safety sweep: glucose-lowering supplements and diabetes medicines |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.