In May 2019 researchers from Germany, Austria and Spain published the results of their study to assess the effect of anthocyanin-rich fruit juice in healthy individuals. Oxidative stress has been linked to increasing the risk of numerous medical conditions such as atherosclerosis, diabetes type 2 and cancer whereas the consumption of foods rich in polyphenols (eg anthocyanins) have been shown to help protect against these medical conditions. A total of 57 healthy male individuals were involved in the study which lasted for a 9-week period. The individuals received either an anthocyanin-rich fruit juice or a placebo drink which was rich in vitamin C for an 8-week period following a 1-week wash out. Results showed that both the anthocyanin-rich fruit juice as well as the vitamin C-rich placebo drink produced DNA-protective and antioxidant effects. Both drinks also produced decreased levels of LDL and total cholesterol within the first week of the intervention. However, it was only the anthocyanin-rich fruit juice that produced a significant reduction in body fat and an increase in fat-free mass. The researchers concluded that similar results in both groups could be explained by the relatively high vitamin C contents of both beverages, which may have masked the effects of anthocyanins and other antioxidants in the studied juice.
Bakuradze T et al. Antioxidative activity and health benefits of anthocyanin rich fruit juice in healthy volunteers. Free Radic Res. 2019 May 14:1-281. [Epub ahead of print]