Aronia: Miracle Berry, Superfood and Immune Booster?

Aronia berries are offered dried, as juice, capsules or powder. Is there anything to watch out for with these products?

The essentials in brief:

• Dietary supplements containing aronia are advertised as beauty products, to strengthen the immune system, for the brain and heart, against diabetes or to protect against cancer.
• The composition of the aronia extracts used in food supplements is usually not known and the vitamins advertised are often added separately.
• The seeds of the aronia berry contain small amounts of amygdalin, which can release toxic hydrocyanic acid in the body.
• The consumption of small amounts of fresh or dried processed aronia berries as well as juice and jam is harmless to health and can contribute to a balanced and healthy diet.

What is behind the advertising for aronia berries?

The aronia berry (also called black chokeberry or black mountain ash, Aronia melanocarpa, chokeberry) is touted as a local superberry / superfood with an exceptionally high content of secondary plant compounds. In Germany it is mainly grown in Brandenburg and Saxony, and the harvest usually starts in August. In fact, aronia berries are rich in anthocyanins (the precursors are OPC ) and polyphenols, which have been linked to a number of health-promoting properties. However, these secondary plant substances are also found in other berries, such as elderberries, blueberries or blackberries.

As early as 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) determined that the requested advertising claims “protection against oxidative damage” and “strengthening of the blood vessels” were not sufficiently scientifically proven and therefore not usable.

Dietary supplements containing aronia are advertised as beauty products, to strengthen the immune system or for cell regeneration, but also as positive for the heart and brain. They are said to have antioxidant, antithrombotic and antihypertensive effects. Aronia is even touted as protection against cancer. However, the current state of knowledge does not provide this. According to the German Cancer Research Center, studies with colon, breast, leukemia and cervical cancer cell lines have shown that very specific isolated polyphenols from aronia berries inhibited cell growth. In order to check whether aronia also protects against cancer in humans, clinical studies that have not yet been carried out must be carried out. So far there have only been laboratory tests on the antiviral effect, no human studies.

It has not yet been conclusively clarified to what extent chokeberry juice has a positive effect on fat metabolism, i.e. lowers LDL cholesterol or triglyceride values. Advertising statements that refer to the prevention, cure or alleviation of diseases are prohibited for all foods and thus also for aronia-containing food supplements. Anyone who eats a variety of vegetables and fruit regularly is usually sufficiently supplied with secondary plant substances / antioxidants .

What should I watch out for when using aronia-containing dietary supplements?

• Various aronia fruit extracts, fruit powder, dried aronia pomace (residue from juice extraction) or juice concentrates are used in food supplements.
• If you want to use food supplements with Aronia, you should observe the manufacturer’s consumption recommendations and do not use a higher dose. Important: These products have nothing to do with the polyphenols isolated from chokeberry, which are used in cancer research.
• If you are a cancer patient , you should not take aronia-containing dietary supplements (or any other) without first consulting the medical staff treating you. Statements such as “may reduce the side effects of some chemotherapy and protect against radiation” can also mean that the effectiveness of the chemotherapy is reduced.
• You should also seek medical advice if you suffer from iron deficiency. Aronia extracts can contain proanthocyanidins (OPC), which also bind iron.
• The vitamins and minerals specified on the dietary supplement do not or only partly come from the aronia berry, but are usually synthetically produced and added. This can be seen in the list of ingredients.
• There are no approved health claims for chokeberry. The statements made on the products, such as “normal heart function” or “normal brain function” refer to other product ingredients such as the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Statements about the immune system usually relate to added vitamin C (synthetic or from the acerola cherry), vitamin B6 , selenium or zinc .
• If you have to take medication regularly, you should ask your doctor’s office or pharmacy to what extent there are interactions between your aronia food supplement and the prescribed medication and what you may need to consider.

What are aronia berries?

The aronia berry, also known as the (black) chokeberry, is a pea-sized purple-black berry that belongs to the rose family. It originally comes from North America, but has been cultivated in Eastern Europe for a very long time. The berry has a tart-sweet-sour taste due to the high tannic acid content and is therefore more suitable for processing than for fresh consumption. Fresh berries can stain teeth and tongue blue.

Aronia berries are mainly processed into jam, juice and puree/pastes, but are also sold as dried fruit (100 g contain 22 g sugar). In addition to the production of food, it is also used as a natural coloring agent, for example in confectionery.

Aronia berry extracts are primarily used in food supplements containing aronia. These extracts can differ from product to product because, unlike medicinal products, extracts are not clearly defined for foods. In most cases, the exact composition is not known and the effect has not been studied. The vitamins advertised in food supplements containing aronia are often artificially added and do not come exclusively from the berry. Aronia powder is also used.

What ingredients are contained in aronia berries?

Aronia berries are rich in secondary plant substances such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. The antioxidant anthocyanins and proanthocyanins in particular should be mentioned here. These substances are responsible for the red to black color of the fruit. The antioxidant potential in the test tube ( ORAC ) is higher than that of blueberries, cranberries or lingonberries, but it is not relevant for the body.

Aronia berries also contain vitamin C (13.7 mg per 100 g), folic acid (20 µg), zinc (0.15 mg) and iron (0.9 mg). Anthocyanins are also found in sour cherries, blueberries, blackberries, elderberries and red cabbage.

The tannins it contains can cause stomach pains in sensitive people. Tolerance is often better if you eat or drink dried aronia berries or pure aronia juice with or after a meal.

Aronia juice can naturally contain up to 100 g sorbitol per liter. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is also used as a sugar substitute (E 420). This can cause problems on an empty stomach or in people with a sensitive gastrointestinal tract. In the case of dried aronia berries, the content is correspondingly higher.

Can aronia berries be contaminated with harmful substances?

Aronia berries contain small amounts of amygdalin in the seeds , a toxic secondary plant compound that can release hydrocyanic acid in the body . According to the Max Rubner Institute, however, regular consumption of products made from aronia berries (juice, jam, jelly or dried fruit) is not a problem with regard to the hydrocyanic acid content. Eating a small portion of fresh berries is also considered safe.

We do not have any current studies on the pollution of aronia berries. In general, depending on where they come from, berries can be contaminated with pesticide residues and heavy metals . Organic products usually perform better.

Our tip: Aronia berries can also be grown in your own garden. Juice or jam made from the berries taste twice as good.

What is prussic acid?

Some plants and foods derived from them (above all bitter almonds, apricot and peach kernels) naturally contain large amounts of hydrocyanic acid-releasing compounds. Poisonous hydrocyanic acid can be released from these non-toxic substances during digestion. Among other things, this leads to symptoms of poisoning such as shortness of breath, dilation of the pupils and cramps, and in the worst case even to death due to the blockage of an enzyme in the respiratory chain (cytochrome oxidase). If poisoning is suspected, seek medical advice immediately or contact the poison control center .

Bitter almonds can only be used as a spice – and only in small quantities. They must always be kept out of the reach of children.