Maqui – The New Super Berry?

Maqui is advertised as a berry with exceptional nutritional value, said to help against dry eyes, diabetes and inflammation.

The essentials in brief:

• The maqui berry is touted as an exotic superberry with high anthocyanin content.
• How high the content of anthocyanins actually is in the product processed into juice, powder or extract and whether they have a health effect in the body is usually not examined or apparent.
• So far, there are only a few studies on the safety of dietary supplements with Maqui extracts. The consumption of natural foods rich in anthocyanins, on the other hand, is harmless.
• Statements such as “helps with dry eyes” or “regulates blood sugar” are prohibited for dietary supplements.

What is the maqui berry ad?

After Noni , Açaí and Goji berries, the next exotic “super berry” follows on the market of dietary supplements. It is mainly advertised with a “strengthening of the immune system”, a “huge weight loss potential” or also with the “strong detoxification function” due to the alleged “highest anthocyanin content of any food in the whole world”. Dietary supplements containing the maqui berry are also said to help with inflammation of the musculoskeletal system or heart problems. Due to the high ORAC value (antioxidant potential) of the maqui berry, it is said to even help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Relatively new are advertising claims that special maqui extracts with the anthocyanin delphinidin help with dry eyes, increase tear production or are supposed to be an alternative to eye drops. These are health-related advertising claims that are prohibited in the EU . The manufacturers then reveal themselves on the packaging by attributing the positive effect on the eyes “maintaining normal vision” only to the added vitamins A and B2 .

Maqui extracts are also offered for better regulation of blood sugar levels. The same pattern can be found here: On the packaging, the description of the effect is only “Maintaining a normal blood sugar level and metabolism” and refers to the added chromium.

The anthocyanins contained in maqui berries belong to the group of antioxidants that scavenge free radicals in the body. Radicals are formed during normal metabolic processes and can damage cells or accelerate natural aging processes. The fresh Maqui berries contain a particularly large amount of anthocyanin. However, the level of anthocyanins in the product processed into juice, powder or extract is usually not examined or revealed. The extent to which the extracts are actually absorbed by the body (bioavailability) and actually develop health effects has also only been little researched to date.

Delphinidin is one of the anthocyanins it contains with a blue-violet color. For example, it is the dominant coloring agent in the red Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Studies that show effects in relation to cancer have so far only been based on cell studies.

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

• While the consumption of the fruit powder is considered safe, knowledge about maqui extracts is very patchy. There are hardly any scientific studies on possible (long-term) risks, drug interactions or bioavailability, especially since extracts are not defined in the food sector . In principle, it could also be leaf extracts. Pay attention to the list of ingredients.
• The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment generally advises caution with new plant substances or their extracts. There are also no recommendations as to how many anthocyanins one should consume or up to what amount of anthocyanins per day are safe. In principle, food supplements therefore carry a certain risk of consuming too high a quantity of anthocyanins. However, manufacturers are obliged to only sell safe dietary supplements. Difficulties are to be expected here, especially when purchasing from non-EU countries .
• With natural foods there is no risk of over-intake, so there are no problems with berries, juice or fruit powder. There is therefore nothing to be said against eating plenty of anthocyanin-containing vegetables or fruit – as part of a varied diet overall.

What are maqui berries?

Maqui berries (Chilean grape berries, Aristotelia chilensis) are small, deep purple berries – similar to blueberries. They are the fruits of the Maqui tree, which is native to Patagonia (Chile). The fruits can be eaten raw or dried. However, because they are difficult to store, they are usually pressed into juice or processed into fruit powder and thus exported to Europe for further processing.

Maqui berry fruit powder is recognized as a safe traditional food from a non-EU country. 100 g of the berry powder contain an average of about 5 grams of polyphenols, including anthocyanins. The usual serving size is half a teaspoon (1.5-2 g).

However, anthocyanin-containing maqui berry extracts are primarily used in dietary supplements.

What ingredients are in maqui berries?

There are frequent reports on the internet that maqui berries have a very high content of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are among the secondary plant substances with an antioxidant effect . There is no official information on the exact salary. A few small studies have described that maqui berries, like blueberries or blackberries, contain various vitamins (e.g. vitamin C ) and minerals in addition to anthocyanins. However, the amount of these ingredients in the product processed into juice, powder or extract is usually not examined and can also vary greatly from product to product.

Can maqui berries be contaminated with harmful substances?

We do not have any studies on the contamination of maqui berries with pollutants. However, it happens again and again that exotic superfoods are contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) or mineral oil during the drying process. Pesticide contamination is also repeatedly found in superfoods.

It is best to look out for organic products. The collection of wild plants in the wild and in forests (wild harvesting) can also be considered organic production. To do this, certain regulations must be observed, which are regulated in the EU organic regulation. For example, the areas must not have been treated with pesticides or fertilizers that are not approved for organic production for at least three years. Collection must also not affect the stability of the natural habitat or the conservation of the species in the area. EU organic farming legislation makes no distinction between cultivated and wild-collected crops when it comes to organic labelling.