Goji berry
Summary
Goji berries are a zeaxanthin-rich fruit. In a 150-person trial, a milk-based goji product raised blood zeaxanthin and kept the macula stable over 90 days (grade C), and pooled trials found slightly lower fasting glucose (grade C). People on warfarin should know of case reports of dangerously high INR after goji tea or juice.
Key facts
- 150 adults aged 65–70: 13.7 g/day of a milk-based goji product for 90 days raised plasma zeaxanthin 26%[4]
- Fasting glucose 0.36 mmol/L (6.5 mg/dL) lower across 7 trials (548 people)[7]
- Triglycerides slightly lower and HDL slightly higher; no significant LDL change (5 trials, 259 people)[8]
- Anaphylaxis reported; skin tests were positive in 77% of 31 plant-food-allergic people tested[11][12]
- 8 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedGoji berries are a rich food source of zeaxanthin, a carotenoid that concentrates in the macula of the eye; eating them raised blood zeaxanthin, skin carotenoids and macular pigment density in trials. The berries also contain polysaccharides studied for antioxidant effects, and goji juice raised blood antioxidant enzyme levels. How goji might lower fasting glucose is not established.[4][5][6][2][7]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood sugar | Grade C | Improved | Meta-analysis · n = 548 · 2017 | 1 row |
| Cholesterol | Grade C | Mixed | Meta-analysis · n = 259 · 2023 | 1 row |
| Eyes | Grade C | Improved | RCT · n = 150 · 2011 | 2 rows |
| Antioxidant status | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 50 · 2009 | 2 rows |
| Energy and wellbeing | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 34 · 2008 | 1 row |
| Body weight | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 29 · 2011 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, body weight and blood pressure | Improved | Grade C | Meta-analysis · n = 548 · 2017 Adults in 7 randomized trials (mostly China) Form: L. barbarum fruit or extracts · Dose: Varied by trial · Duration: Varied by trial Goji lowered fasting glucose by 0.36 mmol/L (6.5 mg/dL). Total cholesterol and triglyceride reductions were not significant, and body weight and blood pressure did not change. | 28401234 (opens PubMed)Source [7] |
| Triglycerides, HDL, LDL and total cholesterol | Mixed | Grade C | Meta-analysis · n = 259 · 2023 Adults in 5 randomized trials Form: L. barbarum fruit, juice or extracts · Dose: Varied by trial · Duration: Varied by trial Triglycerides fell by 0.14 mmol/L and HDL rose by 0.07 mmol/L; LDL and total cholesterol did not change significantly. | 37773857 (opens PubMed)Source [8] |
| Macular pigmentation, soft drusen and plasma zeaxanthin | Improved | Grade C | RCT · n = 150 · 2011 Healthy adults aged 65–70 Form: Lacto-Wolfberry (goji berry in a milk-based formulation) · Dose: 13.7 g/day · Duration: 90 days Plasma zeaxanthin rose 26% and antioxidant capacity 57%. The placebo group showed macular hypopigmentation and soft drusen build-up while the goji group stayed stable. No product-related adverse events. | 21169874 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Blood antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-Px) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 50 · 2009 Healthy adults aged 55–72 (China) Form: Standardized goji juice (GoChi) · Dose: 120 mL/day · Duration: 30 days SOD and GSH-Px were 8–9% higher and MDA 6% lower than placebo at the end of the study. | 19185773 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, 8-iso-PGF2α), zeaxanthin and skin carotenoids | Mixed | Grade D | RCT · n = 40 · 2021 Middle-aged and older adults on a healthy dietary pattern (Singapore) Form: Whole dried wolfberry · Dose: 15 g/day · Duration: 16 weeks Plasma zeaxanthin and skin carotenoids rose with wolfberry. The oxidative stress marker 8-iso-PGF2α also rose versus control, although within the wolfberry group larger zeaxanthin gains went with smaller rises. | 33917032 (opens PubMed)Source [6] |
| Self-rated energy, sleep, focus, mood and digestion | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 34 · 2008 Healthy adults Form: Standardized goji juice (GoChi) · Dose: 120 mL/day · Duration: 14 days Within-group ratings of energy, sleep, focus, calmness and gastrointestinal regularity improved on goji; the placebo group improved on two items. Weight, blood pressure and vision did not change. | 18447631 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Waist circumference and post-meal energy expenditure | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 29 · 2011 Healthy overweight adults Form: Standardized goji juice (GoChi) · Dose: 120 mL/day (single doses of 30–120 mL in the energy expenditure study) · Duration: 14 days Waist circumference fell 5.5 cm with goji versus 0.9 cm with placebo; a single 120 mL dose raised post-meal energy expenditure by 10% at 1 hour. | 22081616 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Macular pigment optical density and skin carotenoids | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 27 · 2021 Healthy adults aged 45–65 (USA) Form: Whole dried goji berries vs a lutein 6 mg + zeaxanthin 4 mg supplement · Dose: 28 g of goji berries five times a week · Duration: 90 days Macular pigment density rose at two retinal locations and skin carotenoids rose in the goji group; no change in the lutein/zeaxanthin supplement group. | 34959963 (opens PubMed)Source [5] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole dried goji berries | Varies[5][6] | Eating 15–28 g of dried berries raised plasma zeaxanthin and skin carotenoids within 45–90 days.[5][6] | No adverse effects were described in the berry trials cited here; allergy is possible in people sensitised to lipid transfer proteins.[5][6][12] | Macular pigment, carotenoid status, oxidative stress markers |
| Standardized goji juice | Varies[1] | No head-to-head human data versus whole berries.[1] | No significant adverse effects reported at 120 mL/day for 14–30 days.[1][2] | Self-rated wellbeing, antioxidant markers, waist size |
| Milk-based goji formulation (Lacto-Wolfberry) | Varies[4] | Raised plasma zeaxanthin by 26% over 90 days.[4] | No product-related adverse events in 75 older adults over 90 days.[4] | Macular health in older adults |
| Goji extract capsules | Varies[7] | No head-to-head human data.[7] | Not reported separately in the meta-analysis abstracts.[7][8] | Included in some trials of glucose and lipids |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 120 mL/day of goji juice for 2–4 weeks and 13.7 g/day of a milk-based goji product for 90 days to 15–28 g of dried berries a day for up to 16 weeks.[1][2][4][5][6]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- WarfarinCase reportINR rose to 4.1 after 4 days of concentrated goji tea in a woman stable on warfarin, and to an unmeasurable level with nosebleeds, bruising and rectal bleeding after 4 days of goji juice in another; both settled after stopping goji. Goji tea only weakly inhibited CYP2C9 in the lab.[9][10]
Who should be careful
- People taking warfarin
- Case reports describe sharply raised INR, once with bleeding, after a few days of goji tea or juice.[9][10]
- Plant-food or tomato allergy
- Goji has caused anaphylaxis, and most plant-food-allergic people tested were skin-test positive, linked to lipid transfer proteins shared with peach and tomato.[11][12]
- Diabetes medicines
- Pooled trials found lower fasting glucose with goji; no study has tested goji alongside glucose-lowering drugs.[7]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Warfarin and goji
Frequently asked questions
Are goji berries good for the eyes?
Goji raised blood zeaxanthin and macular pigment in small trials, and in 150 older adults a milk-based goji product kept the macula stable over 90 days while the placebo group showed changes. Longer trials with vision outcomes are lacking.[4][5]
Do goji berries lower blood sugar?
A meta-analysis of 7 small trials found fasting glucose about 0.36 mmol/L (6.5 mg/dL) lower with goji. The trials were small and varied.[7]
Can I eat goji if I take warfarin?
Caution is warranted: published cases describe sharply raised INR, once with bleeding, after a few days of goji tea or juice.[9][10]
Can goji cause allergic reactions?
Yes. Anaphylaxis has been reported, and people allergic to peach, tomato or other foods containing lipid transfer proteins are at higher risk.[11][12]
Does goji juice boost energy?
One 14-day trial of 34 adults reported better self-rated energy and mood, but results were mainly within-group changes in a sponsor-run study.[1]
Sources
- [1]A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi.. J Altern Complement Med, 2008. RCT
- [2]Lycium barbarum (goji) juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults.. Nutr Res, 2009. RCT
- [3]Lycium barbarum increases caloric expenditure and decreases waist circumference in healthy overweight men and women: pilot study.. J Am Coll Nutr, 2011. RCT
- [4]Goji berry effects on macular characteristics and plasma antioxidant levels.. Optom Vis Sci, 2011. RCT
- [5]Goji Berry Intake Increases Macular Pigment Optical Density in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Pilot Trial.. Nutrients, 2021. RCT
- [6]Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) Consumption with a Healthy Dietary Pattern Lowers Oxidative Stress in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. Antioxidants (Basel), 2021. RCT
- [7]The effects of Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum) on cardiometabolic risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. Food Funct, 2017. meta-analysis
- [8]L. barbarum (Lycium barbarum L.) supplementation for lipid profiles in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.. Medicine (Baltimore), 2023. meta-analysis
- [9]Possible interaction between warfarin and Lycium barbarum L.. Ann Pharmacother, 2001. observational
- [10]Probable interaction between Lycium barbarum (goji) and warfarin.. Pharmacotherapy, 2012. observational
- [11]Anaphylaxis associated with the ingestion of Goji berries (Lycium barbarum).. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol, 2011. observational
- [12]Goji berries (Lycium barbarum): risk of allergic reactions in individuals with food allergy.. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol, 2012. observational
What changed
- Strict adversarial pass: all 12 PMIDs re-checked by esummary (titles/years match, no retraction flags); every n, dose and duration re-read against its abstract. Grades held at C/D (sponsor-run, small trials); warfarin case reports and LTP allergy kept in safety; study countries kept only where the abstract states them.
- First draft rebuilt from scratch after the earlier draft files were lost. Every PMID checked against NCBI esummary and abstracts read for each row. Warfarin interaction and allergy taken from the published case reports and skin-test study.