Kiwifruit

Also called kiwifruit, kiwi, kiwi fruit, green kiwifruit, gold kiwifruit, SunGold kiwifruit.

The short answer

From 17 sources

Whole kiwifruit has been tested mainly for constipation: two green kiwifruit a day added about 1.5 complete bowel movements a week from baseline in a 184-person trial, similar to psyllium, and pooled trials gave kiwifruit a small edge. Three a day lowered blood pressure in male smokers, but two a day did not in men with high cholesterol. Kiwifruit is a common food allergen.

Key facts

What it is
A fruit; green (Hayward) and gold (SunGold) kiwifruit were tested whole37
Largest trial (184 adults)
2 green kiwifruit a day added 1.53 complete bowel movements a week from baseline in functional constipation and 1.73 in IBS-C, similar to psyllium, with better gut comfort10
Constipation (7 trials, 399 people)
Low-certainty gain in weekly bowel movements vs placebo or psyllium; less abdominal pain1
Vs psyllium and prunes (75 adults)
Similar response rates; kiwifruit had the fewest side effects and least dissatisfaction2
LDL cholesterol (6 RCTs)
A 2024 meta-analysis found LDL 9.3 mg/dL lower with kiwifruit (95% CI -17.56 to -1.04); weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol and fasting glucose did not change13
Blood pressure
-10/-9 mmHg with 3 a day in 102 male smokers; no change with 2 a day in 85 men with high cholesterol45
Allergy
One of the most common fruit allergies, from oral itching to anaphylaxis8

What it is

Kiwifruit (Actinidia) is a fibre- and vitamin C-rich fruit; trials gave two or three whole green or gold kiwifruit a day.

How it works

Proposed

Trials compared kiwifruit with fibre-matched psyllium, and two gold kiwifruit a day brought plasma vitamin C to saturation within two weeks; the blood-pressure trial reported 11% lower ACE activity. Which parts of the fruit drive bowel effects is not settled.374

Forms, side by side

3 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.

Kiwifruit forms compared

3 forms
Kiwifruit forms compared: 3 forms by 3 attributes. Empty cells are labelled No data yet, or Not graded in the evidence row.
3 formsGreen kiwifruit (Hayward)Gold kiwifruit (SunGold)Encapsulated kiwifruit extract
Absorption in peopleNot measured; trials tracked bowel habit and blood pressure.25Two a day brought plasma vitamin C to saturation within 2 weeks.7Not measured.1
GI toleranceFewest adverse events of kiwifruit, prunes and psyllium in chronic constipation; no significant adverse events in a 184-person trial.210No problems are reported in the abstracts.37Pooled data suggest more minor adverse events than placebo (RR 4.58, wide CI).1
Studied forConstipation, blood pressure, sleepConstipation, fatigue, mood and well-beingConstipation (3 pooled trials: no change in stool frequency) and IBS-C (575-1,150 mg a day: primary end point missed)
  1. Green kiwifruit (Hayward)
    Absorption in people
    Not measured; trials tracked bowel habit and blood pressure.25
    GI tolerance
    Fewest adverse events of kiwifruit, prunes and psyllium in chronic constipation; no significant adverse events in a 184-person trial.210
    Studied for
    Constipation, blood pressure, sleep
  2. Gold kiwifruit (SunGold)
    Absorption in people
    Two a day brought plasma vitamin C to saturation within 2 weeks.7
    GI tolerance
    No problems are reported in the abstracts.37
    Studied for
    Constipation, fatigue, mood and well-being
  3. Encapsulated kiwifruit extract
    Absorption in people
    Not measured.1
    GI tolerance
    Pooled data suggest more minor adverse events than placebo (RR 4.58, wide CI).1
    Studied for
    Constipation (3 pooled trials: no change in stool frequency) and IBS-C (575-1,150 mg a day: primary end point missed)
Every cell holds data from a cited page; citation numbers link to the page that holds them.Scroll the table for every column

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

12 graded outcomes, largest study first

12 graded outcomes: 9 improved, 1 mixed, 2 no effect. The largest, a 2022 meta-analysis of 399 people on constipation: bowel movements, pain and straining, found an improvement.

1Constipation: bowel movements, pain and straining

Improved · Grade C · Meta-analysis, 399 people, 2022

Adults with constipation in 7 RCTs (82% women)

Dose, result and source
Every graded outcome on this page, largest study first
OutcomeFoundPeopleStudyWho was studied
Constipation: bowel movements, pain and strainingImproved399Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2022Adults with constipation in 7 RCTs (82% women)
Stool frequency vs psyllium (pooled trials)Improved192Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2024Adults with chronic constipation in trials comparing kiwifruit with psyllium
IBS with constipation: bowel habit and pain (extract)Mixed186Grade C · RCT, 2025Adults with IBS-C (Rome III criteria), multicenter
Complete bowel movements and gut comfort (psyllium as comparator)Improved184Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2023Healthy adults (63), functional constipation (60) and IBS-C (61) in New Zealand, Italy and Japan
Fatigue and well-being in adults with low vitamin CImproved167Grade C · RCT, 2020Young adults aged 18 to 35 with plasma vitamin C under 40 µmol/L
Blood pressure in male smokersImproved102Grade C · RCT, 2013Male smokers aged 44 to 74
Blood pressure in men with high cholesterolNo effect85Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2014Men with high cholesterol, mostly normal or prehypertensive blood pressure
Chronic constipation vs psyllium and prunesImproved75Grade C · RCT, 2021US adults with chronic constipation (87% women)
Constipation symptoms vs psylliumImproved56Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2022Adults with functional constipation (11), IBS-C (13) and healthy controls (32)
Fasting glucose, insulin, lipids and blood pressureNo effect42Grade D · RCT, 2022Healthy Asian adults
Mood disturbance and vitality in adults with low moodImproved26Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2025Adults aged 18-60 with mild to moderate mood disturbance
Sleep onset, duration and qualityImproved24Grade D · Open-label trial, 2011Adults aged 20-55 with self-reported sleep problems (22 women, 2 men)
Each circle is one graded outcome on this page, numbered from the largest study down, and placed by how many people it studied (log scale). It shows who was studied and what was found, not advice about your dose.

Every graded row

12 rows

Showing 12 of 12 outcomes. Human trials only.

Grade CConstipation: bowel movements, pain and strainingConstipationMore bowel movements, less painMeta-analysis · 7 studies
n 399 · 2022

Improved Vs placebo, weekly spontaneous bowel movements rose by 1.36 (CI -0.44 to 3.16, low certainty) and abdominal pain fell (moderate certainty); vs psyllium, bowel movements rose by 1.01 a week and stools were softer.

Design
Meta-analysis, 7 studies, n = 399, 2022
Population
Adults with constipation in 7 RCTs (82% women)
Form
Whole kiwifruit or kiwifruit extracts
Dose
Varied by trial
Duration
Varied by trial
Source
Reference 1 · PubMed 36247043 (opens PubMed)
Grade CStool frequency vs psyllium (pooled trials)ConstipationSmall edge over psylliumMeta-analysis
n 192 · 2024

Improved Kiwifruit gave 0.36 more bowel movements a week than psyllium (95% CI 0.24 to 0.48); prunes did not differ from psyllium.

Design
Meta-analysis, n = 192, 2024
Population
Adults with chronic constipation in trials comparing kiwifruit with psyllium
Form
Whole kiwifruit vs psyllium
Dose
Varied by trial
Duration
Varied by trial
Source
Reference 11 · PubMed 37905980 (opens PubMed)
Grade CIBS with constipation: bowel habit and pain (extract)ConstipationPrimary end point missedRCT
n 186 · 2025

Mixed The combined primary end point was not met (24% vs 26%), but more people on the extract had more frequent bowel movements (54% vs 36%), better stool form (87% vs 73%) and less pain (74% vs 59%).

Design
RCT, n = 186, 2025
Population
Adults with IBS-C (Rome III criteria), multicenter
Form
Proprietary green kiwifruit extract vs placebo
Dose
1,150 mg a day (575 mg twice daily) for 4 weeks, then 575 mg a day for 4 weeks
Duration
8 weeks
Source
Reference 14 · PubMed 40786128 (opens PubMed)
Grade CComplete bowel movements and gut comfort (psyllium as comparator)ConstipationAbout 1.5 more bowel movements a weekCrossover RCT
n 184 · 2023

Improved From baseline, kiwifruit added 1.53 complete spontaneous bowel movements a week in functional constipation and 1.73 in IBS-C, a clinically relevant gain, and improved gut comfort scores; bowel movement frequency did not differ from psyllium in any week (full text); no significant adverse events.

Design
Crossover RCT, n = 184, 2023
Population
Healthy adults (63), functional constipation (60) and IBS-C (61) in New Zealand, Italy and Japan
Form
Green kiwifruit vs psyllium
Dose
2 green kiwifruit a day (psyllium 7.5 g a day)
Duration
4 weeks per arm, 4-week washout
Source
Reference 10 · PubMed 36537785 (opens PubMed)
Grade CFatigue and well-being in adults with low vitamin CEnergyLess fatigueRCT
n 167 · 2020

Improved Plasma vitamin C reached saturation within 2 weeks; kiwifruit significantly lowered fatigue and raised well-being, with mood showing a trend; vitamin C tablets gave similar but not identical changes.

Design
RCT, n = 167, 2020
Population
Young adults aged 18 to 35 with plasma vitamin C under 40 µmol/L
Form
Gold kiwifruit vs 250 mg vitamin C tablet vs placebo
Dose
2 SunGold kiwifruit a day
Duration
4 weeks
Source
Reference 7 · PubMed 32971991 (opens PubMed)
Grade CBlood pressure in male smokersBlood pressureLower BPRCT
n 102 · 2013

Improved Systolic pressure fell 10 mmHg and diastolic 9 mmHg in the kiwifruit group vs control, with 15% less platelet aggregation and 11% lower ACE activity.

Design
RCT, n = 102, 2013
Population
Male smokers aged 44 to 74
Form
Whole kiwifruit vs an antioxidant-rich diet vs control
Dose
3 kiwifruit a day
Duration
8 weeks
Source
Reference 4 · PubMed 22258209 (opens PubMed)
Grade CBlood pressure in men with high cholesterolBlood pressureNo changeCrossover RCT
n 85 · 2014

No effect No differences in blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output or peripheral resistance.

Design
Crossover RCT, n = 85, 2014
Population
Men with high cholesterol, mostly normal or prehypertensive blood pressure
Form
Green kiwifruit plus healthy diet vs healthy diet alone
Dose
2 green kiwifruit a day
Duration
4 weeks per arm
Source
Reference 5 · PubMed 24655490 (opens PubMed)
Grade CChronic constipation vs psyllium and prunesConstipationAs good as psyllium, fewer side effectsRCT
n 75 · 2021

Improved Responder rates were similar across all three; kiwifruit improved stool consistency and straining, had the fewest adverse events and the least dissatisfaction (p = 0.02).

Design
RCT, n = 75, 2021
Population
US adults with chronic constipation (87% women)
Form
Green kiwifruit vs psyllium vs prunes
Dose
Not stated in the abstract
Duration
4 weeks
Source
Reference 2 · PubMed 34074830 (opens PubMed)
Grade CConstipation symptoms vs psylliumConstipationFewer symptomsCrossover RCT
n 56 · 2022

Improved Both reduced constipation scores (p = 0.004) and raised weekly complete bowel movements (p = 0.014); gold kiwifruit also reduced straining (p = 0.021).

Design
Crossover RCT, n = 56, 2022
Population
Adults with functional constipation (11), IBS-C (13) and healthy controls (32)
Form
Gold kiwifruit vs fibre-matched psyllium
Dose
2 gold kiwifruit a day
Duration
4 weeks per arm
Source
Reference 3 · PubMed 36235798 (opens PubMed)
Grade DFasting glucose, insulin, lipids and blood pressureMetabolic healthNo metabolic changeRCT
n 42 · 2022

No effect No between-group changes in fasting glucose, insulin, uric acid, triglycerides or cholesterol; systolic pressure was 2.7 mmHg lower (CI -5.5 to 0.0).

Design
RCT, n = 42, 2022
Population
Healthy Asian adults
Form
2 kiwifruit with 500 mL carbonated water before breakfast vs water alone
Dose
2 kiwifruit a day
Duration
7 weeks
Source
Reference 6 · PubMed 35807858 (opens PubMed)
Grade DMood disturbance and vitality in adults with low moodMoodBetter moodCrossover RCT
n 26 · 2025

Improved Total mood disturbance improved 65.2%, wellbeing 10.5% and vitality 17.3% vs usual diet; plasma vitamin C rose 27.5% and gut symptoms fell 16.2%; no serious adverse events.

Design
Crossover RCT, n = 26, 2025
Population
Adults aged 18-60 with mild to moderate mood disturbance
Form
SunGold kiwifruit vs usual diet (not blinded)
Dose
2 SunGold kiwifruit a day
Duration
4 weeks per period, 2-week washout
Source
Reference 15 · PubMed 40284237 (opens PubMed)
Grade DSleep onset, duration and qualitySleepBetter sleep (uncontrolled)Open-label trial
n 24 · 2011

Improved Sleep quality score (PSQI) fell 42.4%, waking after sleep onset 28.9% and time to fall asleep 35.4%; total sleep time rose 13.4% and sleep efficiency 5.41%.

Design
Open-label trial, n = 24, 2011
Population
Adults aged 20-55 with self-reported sleep problems (22 women, 2 men)
Form
Whole kiwifruit, no control group
Dose
2 kiwifruit 1 hour before bedtime
Duration
4 weeks
Source
Reference 16 · PubMed 21669584 (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.

Gentlest of the bowel options tested

Against psyllium and prunes, kiwifruit worked about as well, with the fewest side effects and least dissatisfaction.21

How we got this: 2021 comparative trial and 2022 meta-analysis

Industry links

Zespri, the kiwifruit marketer, sponsored the largest constipation trial and employs two of its authors; several authors of the gold kiwifruit trial have also received Zespri funding.103

How we got this: Funding and conflict-of-interest statements in the 2022 and 2023 trials

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 2 to 3 whole kiwifruit a day for 4 to 8 weeks; an encapsulated green kiwifruit extract was tested at 575 to 1,150 mg a day for 8 weeks.34571014

When trials measured an effect

2 outcomes
How long trials ran before effects were measured
OutcomeMeasured atBasis
Vitality and mood (adults with low vitamin C)Within 4 days, peaking around days 14 to 16Smartphone surveys every second day in 155 young adults eating 2 SunGold kiwifruit a day vs placebo17
Fatigue and well-being (adults with low vitamin C)Week 2 (first fortnightly check)167-person KiwiC trial; plasma vitamin C also reached saturation within 2 weeks7
When each outcome was assessed in the cited trials. It is not a promise of when anyone will notice a change.

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.

Interactions

0 agents

None found in our sources.

Check with what you take

Kept on this device only

Add what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Kiwifruit and your picks, and between your picks.

Most cited:

Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Kiwifruit.

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.

Not medical advice, and no dosing advice. An empty result means no row we cite names that pair, by name or through a drug class we can link the medicine to, not that a combination is safe. Where our sources name only a group of medicines we cannot match, the cabinet says so. Ask your pharmacist before you combine supplements and medicines.

Who should be careful

4 groups
Kiwifruit allergy
Kiwifruit is one of the most common fruit allergies; reactions range from oral allergy syndrome to anaphylaxis, and 13 allergens are identified, some most abundant in fully ripe fruit.8
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Whole kiwifruit is an ordinary food. None of the trials cited here tested kiwifruit or its extracts in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and NCCIH notes that many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women or nursing mothers.91
Extract capsules
Pooled trials suggest encapsulated extracts cause more minor side effects than placebo, though the estimate is uncertain.1
Medicines and surgery
NCCIH advises telling your health care providers about every supplement you use.9
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.

How to read the label

What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.

How to read the label

1 checks
Fruit, not milligrams

Trials used 2 gold or 2 to 3 green whole kiwifruit a day; extract capsules are a different product, and a 2023 meta-analysis of 3 trials found they did not change stool frequency.34112

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.

Common questions

6 answers
Does kiwifruit help constipation?

Yes, in several trials. In the largest (184 adults), two green kiwifruit a day added about 1.5 complete bowel movements a week from baseline in constipation and IBS-C, similar to psyllium. Pooled trials show a small edge over psyllium (0.36 more a week), with low certainty overall.10111

Does kiwifruit lower cholesterol?

Possibly LDL. A 2024 meta-analysis of 6 trials found LDL about 9.3 mg/dL lower with kiwifruit, with no change in total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose or weight. Only 6 trials were pooled.13

Does kiwifruit lower blood pressure?

Mixed. Three a day lowered pressure by 10/9 mmHg in 102 male smokers, while two a day did not change it in 85 men with high cholesterol.45

Does kiwifruit boost energy?

In 167 young adults with low vitamin C, two gold kiwifruit a day reduced fatigue and improved well-being within 2 weeks.7

Does kiwifruit have side effects?

Allergy is the main risk, from mouth itching to anaphylaxis. In a 184-person trial two green kiwifruit a day caused no significant adverse events, and against psyllium and prunes kiwifruit had the fewest side effects. Extract capsules caused more minor side effects than placebo in pooled trials.81021

Do kiwifruit extract capsules work as well as the fruit?

Less clearly. A 2023 meta-analysis of 3 trials found kiwifruit supplements did not change stool frequency, and an 8-week trial in 186 people with IBS-C missed its main end point, though bowel habit and pain improved. Whole-fruit trials show more consistent benefits.121410

Sources

17 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.

Sources cited on this page

17 sources
  1. 1Kiwifruit and Kiwifruit Extracts for Treatment of Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Meta-analysis Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2022 · PMID 36247043
  2. 2Exploratory Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Green Kiwifruit, Psyllium, or Prunes in US Patients With Chronic Constipation.RCT Am J Gastroenterol, 2021 · PMID 34074830
  3. 3Two Gold Kiwifruit Daily for Effective Treatment of Constipation in Adults-A Randomized Clinical Trial.Crossover RCT Nutrients, 2022 · PMID 36235798
  4. 4Kiwifruit decreases blood pressure and whole-blood platelet aggregation in male smokers.RCT J Hum Hypertens, 2013 · PMID 22258209
  5. 5Daily kiwifruit consumption did not improve blood pressure and markers of cardiovascular function in men with hypercholesterolemia.Crossover RCT Nutr Res, 2014 · PMID 24655490
  6. 6Metabolic and Blood Pressure Effects of Consuming Two Kiwifruit Daily for 7 Weeks: A Randomised Controlled Trial.RCT Nutrients, 2022 · PMID 35807858
  7. 7KiwiC for Vitality: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial Testing the Effects of Kiwifruit or Vitamin C Tablets on Vitality in Adults with Low Vitamin C Levels.RCT Nutrients, 2020 · PMID 32971991
  8. 8A Comprehensive Review on Kiwifruit Allergy: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Management, and Potential Modification of Allergens Through Processing.Review Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf, 2019 · PMID 33336949
  9. 9Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
  10. 10Consumption of 2 Green Kiwifruits Daily Improves Constipation and Abdominal Comfort-Results of an International Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.Crossover RCT Am J Gastroenterol, 2023 · PMID 36537785
  11. 11Systematic review and meta-analysis: Foods, drinks and diets and their effect on chronic constipation in adults.Meta-analysis Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2024 · PMID 37905980
  12. 12The effect of food, vitamin, or mineral supplements on chronic constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Meta-analysis Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2023 · PMID 37243443
  13. 13The effects of kiwifruit consumption on anthropometric and cardiometabolic indices in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Food Sci Nutr, 2024 · PMID 39479621
  14. 14Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind 8-Week Trial on the Efficacy of A Proprietary Kiwifruit Extract on Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome.RCT JGH Open, 2025 · PMID 40786128
  15. 15SunGold Kiwifruit and Psychological Health (GoKiPH): A Randomised Controlled Crossover Trial.Crossover RCT Nutrients, 2025 · PMID 40284237
  16. 16Effect of kiwifruit consumption on sleep quality in adults with sleep problems.Open-label trial Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2011 · PMID 21669584
  17. 17Smartphone survey data reveal the timecourse of changes in mood outcomes following vitamin C or kiwifruit intervention in adults with low vitamin C.RCT Br J Nutr, 2024 · PMID 38073290

What changed

Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.

Change log

2 entries
Dated changes to this page
DateChangeWho and why
evidence, key facts, forms, studied doses, who should avoid, time to effect, FAQ, questions, relatedAdded the 2023 multicentre trial of 184 adults (2 green kiwifruit a day vs psyllium: about 1.5 more complete bowel movements a week from baseline, no different from psyllium, grade C), a 2024 meta-analysis of kiwifruit vs psyllium (n = 192, grade C), a 2025 kiwifruit-extract trial in 186 people with IBS-C (primary end point missed, grade C), a 2025 mood crossover (n = 26, grade D) and a 2011 uncontrolled sleep study (n = 24, grade D). Added a 2024 cardiometabolic meta-analysis (LDL 9.3 mg/dL lower, 6 trials) and a 2023 meta-analysis finding extract supplements did not change stool frequency as key facts, a pregnancy and breastfeeding note (NCCIH), time-to-effect rows from the KiwiC trial and its smartphone follow-up, page questions, goal-hub links and FAQ items on cholesterol, side effects and extracts. Checked for interactions: no LactMed or LiverTox entry for kiwifruit and no NCCIH or MedlinePlus kiwifruit page; none documented, so the list stays empty. Not added: fermented gold kiwi product trials (39519611, 39203808), a children's trial pairing kiwifruit with soccer (39801291), an uncontrolled athlete sleep study without a participant count in the abstract (37242157), and the 2024 meta-analysis as a graded LDL row (no LDL-specific participant count).Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md
allInitial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts. Industry links disclosed (Zespri, 2022 gold kiwifruit trial); the null blood-pressure and breakfast trials are shown. Allergy from a 2019 review. No product listing: kiwifruit is a food.Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page

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