Fruits · Fruit
Blackcurrants
Ribes nigrum · also called Blackcurrant, black currant, cassis, grosella negra (Spanish)
Blackcurrants are small, tart, dark purple berries that are a very rich source of vitamin C and of dark pigments called anthocyanins. They are eaten cooked, sweetened, or as juice, jam and cordial. Most health trials used juice, extracts or combination products, not a bowl of berries, and show small changes in lab and fitness tests. No study shows that blackcurrants prevent or treat a disease. We found no specific safety problem with eating them, but concentrated products have a few cautions.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Blackcurrants
Blackcurrants are a vitamin C-rich tart berry. Human research is mostly small, short studies of juices and extracts, so they are best seen as a nutritious fruit rather than a proven remedy.
What it is
Blackcurrants are the dark purple-black berries of Ribes nigrum, a shrub. The whole berry is eaten, but it is tart, so it is most often cooked, sweetened, or made into juice, jam and cordial.
GBIF, a plant-name database, places the species in the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). Red currants, white currants and gooseberries are different fruits, and evidence for one does not carry over to another.
What is in a portion
USDA FoodData Central lists these values for raw European black currants. Per 100 g: 63 kcal, 15.4 g carbohydrate, 1.4 g protein, 0.4 g fat, 181 mg vitamin C, 322 mg potassium, 55 mg calcium, 1.5 mg iron, 24 mg magnesium and 1.0 mg vitamin E.
For the USDA household portion of one cup (112 g), that is about 71 kcal, 17.2 g carbohydrate, 203 mg vitamin C and 361 mg potassium. The record lists no value for fibre, sugars, folate or vitamin K. Values vary with variety, ripeness and storage, and cooked, dried, juiced or sweetened forms differ.
Vitamin C and scurvy
The NHS lists blackcurrants among good sources of vitamin C and says lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy. The Linus Pauling Institute describes scurvy as potentially fatal, with easy bruising, poor wound healing, hair and tooth loss and joint pain.
Eating vitamin C-rich foods covers the need. We found no trial of blackcurrants in people with scurvy, and no good evidence of extra benefit when intake is already enough.
What the research shows
Blood vessels: a one-day trial in 23 healthy adults found a blackcurrant drink with a fatty meal improved an artery-widening test. A 2026 review of 65 trials of anthocyanins from many sources found small gains on the same test, but no change in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar or insulin resistance.
Thinking: a juice trial in young adults changed a brain blood-oxygen signal but not test scores. A formula that also contained L-theanine and pine bark helped one attention measure in older adults, while a 24-week trial of a blackcurrant product in 110 older adults with memory complaints found no effect.
Exercise: pooled trials of extracts found more fat burning during exercise, and a review of 21 trials found a small-to-moderate average performance benefit, but a trial in trained cyclists found none. Pilot studies of gut symptoms in heat and of bone density in midlife women are too small to rely on.
None of these trials measured heart attacks, diabetes, dementia or any disease outcome.
Berries versus juice, extracts and supplements
Nearly all trials used a prepared drink, juice, freeze-dried powder, a branded extract or a combination formula. Results for those products do not automatically apply to eating the berries, and the reverse is also true. Sweetened juices, cordials and jams can contain added sugar, so check the label.
Amounts
This page gives no amounts to eat or take. Ask a doctor, dietitian or pharmacist what is right for you, especially if you take medicine.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Eaten as a tart fruit, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial
- Named by the NHS as a good food source of vitamin C
Studied for research
- Vitamin C source and scurvy prevention, high certainty for vitamin C in general
- Blood vessel function (artery widening test), low certainty
- Fat burning and performance in exercise with extracts, moderate to low certainty
- Thinking and memory, mixed certainty
- Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar, insufficient evidence
Main compounds
- Vitamin C (181 mg per 100 g raw berries, USDA)
- Anthocyanins, the dark purple pigments (a trial drink held 711 mg in 200 mL)
- Sarmentosin, a compound that blocked a blood enzyme (MAO-B) in healthy adults
Common forms
- Fresh or frozen berries (no trial of whole berries for a health outcome was found)
- Juice and cordial (often sweetened)
- Freeze-dried powder and branded extracts (used in trials)
- Combination formulas (for example with L-theanine and pine bark, used in one trial)
Research links: USDA FoodData Central: raw European black currants · NHS: Vitamin C · Blackcurrant drink and blood vessels trial (J Nutr, 2025) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Ribes nigrum
- Naming authority
- L. (GBIF accepted, usageKey 2986192)
- Common names
- Blackcurrant (English); Black currant (English); Cassis (French (also used in English for the liqueur and flavour)); Grosella negra (Spanish)
- Family or group
- Grossulariaceae (the gooseberry family), per GBIF.
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Saxifragales > Grossulariaceae > Ribes > Ribes nigrum
- Native range
- Not verified from a source read.
- Habitat
- Not verified from a source read.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: A small dark purple-black berry, eaten whole (no source read for botanical detail).
- Cultivation
- Not verified from a source read.
- Harvest and processing
- Trials used cold-pressed juice, freeze-dried powder, branded extracts and capsules (see study records).
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Other currants and berries; Note: Red and white currants and gooseberries are related fruits but are different; evidence for one does not carry over to another. Identification was not researched.; Name: Blackcurrant seed oil and leaf products; Note: Made from other parts of the plant and not covered here.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not assessed.
Photographs
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary source of vitamin C | The NHS lists blackcurrants among good sources of vitamin C. The Linus Pauling Institute notes that scurvy was known to be curable by eating oranges or lemons in the late 1700s; blackcurrants are not mentioned in that history. | s-nhs-vitamin-c |
| Modern sports and brain research | Much recent human research uses New Zealand blackcurrant products (extracts, juice, powder) in sport and brain studies. | p41631820 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthocyanins | polyphenol pigments | Berry skin and juice One trial drink (200 mL) held 744 mg polyphenols, 711 mg of them anthocyanins (a prepared drink, not raw fruit). We read no source giving the amount in raw berries, so no figure is given for them. | Linked in trials to small gains in artery widening; the exact compounds responsible in people are not settled. Individual anthocyanins were not looked up in PubChem (NOT verified). 1 2 | Human data |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) PubChem 54670067 | vitamin | Berry 181 mg per 100 g raw berries (USDA) | Prevents scurvy; needed for blood vessels, skin, bones and wound healing (NHS). 20 19 | Human data |
| Sarmentosin PubChem 5281123 | nitrile glycoside | Fruit (found in juice and freeze-dried powder) | Identified as the main blackcurrant compound that blocks MAO-A and MAO-B in the lab and blocked platelet MAO-B in people. PubChem CID found by name search 2026-10-25. 7 | Human data |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platelet monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) | MAOB | Juice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder inhibited platelet MAO-B by about 90% in healthy adults; the effect was fast and reversible. 7 13 | Human data |
| Blood vessel widening (endothelial function) | A blackcurrant drink improved flow-mediated dilation after a fatty meal; plasma levels of several anthocyanin breakdown products (hippuric acid, isovanillic acid) predicted the FMD change. 1 | Human data | |
| Fuel choice during exercise | Extract raised fat burning and lowered carbohydrate burning in pooled trials. The route is not established. 3 | Human data | |
| Bone-breakdown signals and gut bacteria | RANKL, IL-1 beta | In a pilot, high-level blackcurrant gave borderline lower RANKL and IL-1 beta and shifted one gut bacterial group. Proposed, not proven, as the route for less bone loss. 11 | Human data |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Anthocyanin breakdown products appeared in plasma after the blackcurrant drink, and hippuric acid and isovanillic acid levels predicted artery-widening changes.
- Distribution
- Not found.
- Metabolism
- Anthocyanins are converted into phenolic breakdown products (named in the 2025 trial). Sarmentosin was reported as bioavailable and stable during freeze-drying.
- Elimination
- In a trial of 8 men, platelet MAO-B inhibition after juice was reversible; the full time course was tracked over 24 hours.
- Bioavailability
- Not established for raw berries.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Almost all human trials used a juice, extract, freeze-dried product or a combination formula, not a bowl of berries. Juice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder inhibited platelet MAO-B to a similar degree, so processing did not change that marker. Sports trials used concentrated extracts, and the strongest older-adult cognition result came from a product that also contained L-theanine and pine bark. None of these results should be assumed to apply to eating raw or cooked berries.
Nutritional composition
Per 100 g of raw European black currants, USDA FoodData Central (record 173963, SR Legacy, 2019) lists 63 kcal, 15.4 g carbohydrate, 1.4 g protein, 0.4 g fat, 181 mg vitamin C, 322 mg potassium, 55 mg calcium, 1.5 mg iron, 24 mg magnesium and 1.0 mg vitamin E. For the USDA household portion of 1 cup (112 g), that works out to about 71 kcal, 17.2 g carbohydrate, 203 mg vitamin C and 361 mg potassium (per-cup figures are the per-100 g values multiplied by 1.12 and rounded). The record lists no value for fibre, sugars, folate or vitamin K. Values vary with variety, ripeness and storage.
1 high certainty1 moderate certainty1 mixed findings3 low certainty3 very low certainty1 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 10 benefits and uses checked for Blackcurrants, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Vitamin C source and scurvy preventionHigh certainty
- Blood vessel function (artery widening test)Low certainty
- Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugarNot enough evidence
- Thinking, memory and attentionMixed findings
- Fat burning during exercise (extract)Moderate certainty
- Sports performance (extract)Low certainty
- Stomach symptoms during hot-weather running (extract)Very low certainty
- Bone density and gut bacteria in midlife womenVery low certainty
- Heart disease and type 2 diabetes in long-term population studiesLow certainty
- Alertness, mood and the MAO-B blood markerVery low certainty
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Flow-mediated dilation (FMD)Front-of-brain blood-oxygen signalBlood pressureBlood glucose after a carbohydrate mealFat burning during exercisePlatelet MAO-B enzyme activityWhole-body bone mineral densityGut symptom score during running
What is Blackcurrants good for?
The main studied uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. Almost all results are for juice, extracts or supplements, not for eating the berries.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Vitamin C source and scurvy prevention
High certaintyBlackcurrants are a very rich food source of vitamin C. Severe lack of vitamin C causes scurvy, and eating enough vitamin C prevents it. No trial has tested blackcurrants in people with scurvy, so this rests on what vitamin C does, not on a blackcurrant study.
3 studiesRaw berries (USDA). Cooked, dried, juiced or sweetened products may d…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
USDA FoodData Central lists 181 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of raw European black currants, which is about 203 mg in a cup (112 g). The NHS lists blackcurrants among good sources of vitamin C and says lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy. The Linus Pauling Institute describes scurvy as a potentially fatal disease with bruising, poor wound healing, hair and tooth loss and joint pain. We found no trial of blackcurrants given to people with scurvy.
Results
Eating vitamin C-rich foods covers the need for vitamin C. There is no good evidence of extra benefit once intake is already enough.
Effect sizes as reported
USDA: 181 mg vitamin C per 100 g raw berries.
Why this rating
High for the general fact that vitamin C prevents scurvy (NHS, Linus Pauling Institute). No blackcurrant-specific trial, so the berry itself is rated only by its measured vitamin C content.
Form and dose studied
Raw berries (USDA). Cooked, dried, juiced or sweetened products may differ in vitamin C and sugar; not checked.
Who was studied
Anyone; matters mainly where the diet has too little vitamin C.
Limits
Nutrient content comes from one USDA record; values vary with variety, ripeness and storage. No blackcurrant scurvy trial.
Why researchers looked
Blackcurrants are named by the NHS as a good source of vitamin C, and USDA measures a high amount in the raw berry.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Established physiology
Vitamin C is needed to keep blood vessels, skin, bones and cartilage healthy and to heal wounds (NHS). Not having enough causes scurvy.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Vitamin C from food is not the same as high-dose supplements (see safety).
Blood vessel function (artery widening test)
Low certaintyOne small one-day trial found that a blackcurrant drink eaten with a fatty meal improved a test of how well arteries widen. A large 2026 review of anthocyanin trials (from many foods, not just blackcurrants) also found small gains on this test. It is a short-term test, not heart attacks or strokes.
2 studiesThe trial used a prepared blackcurrant drink, not whole berries.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In a 2025 crossover trial in 23 healthy adults (average age about 40), a 200 mL blackcurrant drink (711 mg anthocyanins) taken with a high-fat breakfast and lunch led to a significant cumulative improvement in flow-mediated dilation over 6 hours compared with a matched placebo. Platelet clumping showed only a trend. A 2026 review of 65 randomised trials of anthocyanins from foods and supplements in healthy people found flow-mediated dilation improved by about 1.4 to 1.5 points, and the reviewers graded this evidence strong for one-day use and moderate for longer use. The review did not single out blackcurrants.
Results
Small improvement in an artery test in healthy people. No heart disease outcome was measured in the blackcurrant trial.
Effect sizes as reported
Review: chronic FMD +1.41% (95% CI 0.90 to 1.91); acute FMD +1.50% (1.16 to 1.84). Blackcurrant trial: significant cumulative FMD improvement, n = 23 (size not given in the abstract).
Why this rating
For blackcurrants specifically there is one small one-day trial of a prepared drink in healthy people, with industry links. The wider review is stronger but covers anthocyanins from many sources.
Form and dose studied
The trial used a prepared blackcurrant drink, not whole berries.
Who was studied
Healthy adults.
Limits
One day only; a drink, not berries; a test measure, not a disease outcome; industry-linked trial; the review was partly funded by a blueberry industry body.
Why researchers looked
Anthocyanins are thought to help blood vessels relax, and a fatty meal temporarily stiffens them.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Blackcurrants are rich in anthocyanins, the dark purple pigments. Lab and human work suggests they may help blood vessels relax and may change how some body enzymes work, but the exact route in people is not settled.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar
Not enough evidencePooled trials of anthocyanins in healthy people found no change in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood fats, or blood sugar. A trial of a blackcurrant extract drink found only a minimal effect on total blood sugar after a carbohydrate load. So there is no good evidence that blackcurrants improve these numbers.
3 studiesBlackcurrant extract drinks and a blackcurrant drink; the review cove…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
The 2026 review of anthocyanin trials in healthy people found lipids, blood pressure, glucose and insulin resistance were unaffected. In the 2025 blackcurrant drink trial, lower systolic blood pressure was an exploratory result not adjusted for multiple testing. In two 2023 crossover trials (29 and 37 healthy adults), a lower-polyphenol blackcurrant extract drink reduced early blood glucose in the first 30 minutes after a carbohydrate load, but the total glucose response did not differ, and the authors called the effect minimal.
Results
No dependable effect on blood pressure, lipids or total blood sugar.
Effect sizes as reported
Review: lipids, blood pressure, glucose unaffected; insulin -2.24 pmol/L (95% CI -4.22 to -0.27). Extract drinks: early glucose lower, total response not different.
Why this rating
Pooled anthocyanin trials found no effect, and blackcurrant-specific data are limited to short single-dose trials in healthy people.
Form and dose studied
Blackcurrant extract drinks and a blackcurrant drink; the review covers anthocyanins in general.
Who was studied
Healthy adults.
Limits
Not blackcurrant-specific in the review; single-dose drinks; healthy people, so no information about people with high blood pressure or diabetes.
Why researchers looked
Blackcurrants are often marketed for heart and blood sugar health.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Anthocyanins and other polyphenols may slow sugar uptake in the gut in lab and short human tests, but the effect on total blood sugar was small.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
People with diabetes or high blood pressure should not use blackcurrants in place of their medicines.
Thinking, memory and attention
Mixed findingsResults are mixed. A juice trial in young adults changed blood-oxygen signals in the front of the brain but did not change test scores. A combination product (blackcurrant with L-theanine and pine bark) helped one attention measure in older adults, but a trial of a blackcurrant freeze-dried product in older people with memory complaints found no effect. A large review of anthocyanin products reported gains, but not for blackcurrants alone.
4 studiesJuice, freeze-dried product, and a combination formula; none was a bo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
2026, 20 healthy adults aged 18 to 35: a cold-pressed blackcurrant juice changed pre-frontal blood-oxygen signals but had no effect on cognition. 2026, 26 healthy older adults (about 62 years) completed a crossover trial of a formula of freeze-dried blackcurrant plus L-theanine and pine bark: fewer false alarms on one attention task (p = 0.022) and a borderline trend to less mental fatigue; the trial author group includes a patent inventor. 2026, 110 adults aged 60 to 85 with memory complaints (94 completed) took a freeze-dried blackcurrant product (250 mg anthocyanins a day) for 24 weeks: no effect on memory or any other outcome. A 2026 meta-analysis of 59 trials of anthocyanin products reported better global cognition (standardised difference 0.46) but is not blackcurrant-specific.
Results
No dependable benefit shown for blackcurrants alone; the positive older-adult result was for a combination product.
Effect sizes as reported
Meta-analysis (all anthocyanin products): global cognition SMD 0.46 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.63). Older-adult formula: false alarms p = 0.022. 24-week blackcurrant product: no treatment effect.
Why this rating
Positive and null trials of blackcurrant products, small samples, a combination product, and a wider review that is not blackcurrant-specific.
Form and dose studied
Juice, freeze-dried product, and a combination formula; none was a bowl of berries.
Who was studied
Healthy young adults; healthy older adults; older adults with memory complaints.
Limits
Small trials; products differ; one trial has an inventor of related technology among the authors; one author group is linked to the juice maker.
Why researchers looked
Anthocyanins may improve blood flow to the brain, and blackcurrant compounds block an enzyme called MAO-B in the blood (a lab marker).
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
A blackcurrant compound called sarmentosin blocks platelet MAO-B in humans; whether this changes thinking in everyday life is unknown.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the medicines note on MAO-B in the safety tab.
Fat burning during exercise (extract)
Moderate certaintyIn active adults, blackcurrant extract raised fat burning and lowered carbohydrate burning during exercise in pooled trials. This is about concentrated extracts, not eating berries, and the effect was not the same for every person.
2 studiesNew Zealand blackcurrant extract and similar supplements.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 controlled trials (226 physically active adults aged 18 to 65) found blackcurrant extract raised fat burning by 0.042 g per minute (P < 0.001) and lowered carbohydrate burning by 0.099 g per minute (P = 0.012) during exercise. A second 2026 review of 21 crossover trials rated the certainty of metabolic outcomes as moderate.
Results
Fat burning during exercise rose on average. This is a lab measure, not weight loss.
Effect sizes as reported
Fat oxidation +0.042 g/min; carbohydrate oxidation -0.099 g/min (n = 226 across 15 trials).
Why this rating
Two systematic reviews agree on the direction (reviewers' own rating moderate for metabolic outcomes in one), but trials are small, doses differ and the result is not consistent person to person.
Form and dose studied
New Zealand blackcurrant extract and similar supplements.
Who was studied
Physically active adults.
Limits
Extracts, not the fruit; active adults; no weight or health outcome.
Why researchers looked
Anthocyanins may change how muscles choose between fat and carbohydrate for fuel.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Proposed: anthocyanins affect blood flow and fuel use in muscle. Not settled in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Sports performance (extract)
Low certaintyResults are mixed. A review of 21 trials found a small-to-moderate average benefit, strongest for repeated sprint-type efforts and weaker or absent for endurance cycling. A trial in 16 trained cyclists found no effect, and a small strength trial found some gains that partly appeared in the placebo group too.
3 studiesNew Zealand blackcurrant extract and capsule supplements.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2026 systematic review of 21 randomised crossover trials found a mean effect size of 0.44 on performance (largest, 0.6, for repeated high-intensity team-style efforts; small and variable for endurance cycling and absent in low oxygen). The reviewers rated certainty low for performance. A 2025 trial in 16 trained cyclists found no effect of a single dose or 7 days of extract on a time trial or physiology. A 2026 crossover trial in 20 resistance-trained adults found higher bench press strength than both control and placebo, but the placebo group also beat the no-capsule control on leg press, so some gains may be expectation or repeat-testing effects; sprint results were unchanged.
Results
Possible small benefit in some sports, none in others.
Effect sizes as reported
Review mean d = 0.44 (low certainty); cyclist trial: no significant difference (p > 0.05), n = 16.
Why this rating
Reviewers rated low certainty for performance; individual trials disagree and are small.
Form and dose studied
New Zealand blackcurrant extract and capsule supplements.
Who was studied
Trained cyclists, resistance-trained adults, active adults.
Limits
Extracts and capsules, not berries; small trials; many outcomes tested.
Why researchers looked
Blackcurrant extract is sold to athletes, so researchers tested whether it changes speed, power or strength.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established; the same blood-flow and fuel-use ideas as above.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
In the strength trial side effects were similar across conditions.
Stomach symptoms during hot-weather running (extract)
Very low certaintyIn one tiny pilot of 12 men, seven days of a blackcurrant extract was linked to fewer stomach and gut symptoms during an hour of running in the heat. It is a first observation only.
1 studiesA branded New Zealand blackcurrant extract.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In a 2025 crossover pilot in 12 active men, 11 reported gut symptoms during an hour of treadmill running at about 34 degrees C on placebo; with 7 days of New Zealand blackcurrant extract the total symptom score was lower (112 vs 54, p = 0.04). The abstract's own percentages do not fully agree with its counts.
Results
Fewer symptoms in this small pilot.
Effect sizes as reported
Symptom score 112 vs 54, p = 0.04, n = 12.
Why this rating
Pilot study of 12 men, one hot-weather test, branded extract.
Form and dose studied
A branded New Zealand blackcurrant extract.
Who was studied
Recreationally active young men.
Limits
Tiny pilot; extract; healthy men.
Why researchers looked
Hard exercise in heat often upsets the gut, and anthocyanins might protect it.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Unknown
Not established.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Bone density and gut bacteria in midlife women
Very low certaintyA small six-month pilot in women around the menopause found less loss of whole-body bone density with blackcurrant than with control, along with shifts in gut bacteria. It is a pilot and the inflammation results were only borderline.
1 studiesBlackcurrant at 392 or 784 mg a day (form not stated in the abstract).
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2024 pilot randomised trial: 51 women aged 45 to 60 were assigned to control or blackcurrant at two levels for 6 months; 40 completed. Blackcurrant reduced loss of whole-body bone mineral density (P < .05). IL-1 beta (P = .056) and RANKL (P = .052) were only borderline lower in the high group. One bacterial group rose with dose.
Results
Less loss of bone density in a pilot; no fracture outcome.
Effect sizes as reported
Whole-body BMD loss reduced, P < .05; n = 40 completers.
Why this rating
Pilot with 40 completers, borderline secondary results, form of blackcurrant not stated in the abstract.
Form and dose studied
Blackcurrant at 392 or 784 mg a day (form not stated in the abstract).
Who was studied
Peri- and early postmenopausal women.
Limits
Pilot; no fractures; one site.
Why researchers looked
Anthocyanin-rich foods have been linked in lab work to bone protection and gut changes.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
The authors suggest changes in gut bacteria and lower bone-breakdown signals (RANKL, IL-1 beta) may play a role; this is a proposal, not proven.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Heart disease and type 2 diabetes in long-term population studies
Low certaintyIn large population studies, people who ate the most anthocyanins (from many foods) had lower rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This is an association across foods, not proof, and blackcurrants were not singled out.
1 studiesHabitual dietary anthocyanin intake, all sources.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
The 2026 review pooled 18 cohorts (27 publications). Highest vs lowest habitual anthocyanin intake was linked to 26% lower CVD incidence (4 studies), 18% lower heart attack (5), 11% lower type 2 diabetes (8), 9% lower CVD death (10) and 8% lower hypertension risk (6). Stroke was unaffected. The reviewers graded the evidence moderate for CVD and heart attack.
Results
Association only. People who eat more berries and fruit may also differ in other healthy habits.
Effect sizes as reported
CVD -26%; MI -18%; T2DM -11%; CVD death -9%; hypertension -8% (highest vs lowest intake).
Why this rating
Observational, anthocyanins from many foods, partly funded by a blueberry industry body. Reviewers' own GRADE was moderate for CVD/MI, but cannot be attributed to blackcurrants.
Form and dose studied
Habitual dietary anthocyanin intake, all sources.
Who was studied
Healthy adults in cohort studies.
Limits
Association not cause; not blackcurrant-specific; industry-linked funding.
Why researchers looked
Anthocyanins come from dark berries, grapes and other foods, so population studies track intake.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Observational
Not tested by these studies. They only compare groups.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Alertness, mood and the MAO-B blood marker
Very low certaintyBlackcurrant juice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder strongly and reversibly blocked an enzyme in blood platelets called MAO-B in small trials of healthy adults. One trial linked this to higher alertness and less mental fatigue. This is a blood marker and a short-term feeling, not a mood treatment.
2 studiesJuice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
2024 double-blind crossover in healthy adults: platelet MAO-B inhibition was 89% (+/- 6) after freeze-dried whole-fruit powder and 91% (+/- 4) after juice, and tracked with blood catecholamines, alertness and less mental fatigue on a questionnaire (sample size not given in the abstract). 2020 trial in 8 healthy men: a single serve of blackcurrant juice caused a fast, complete and reversible fall in platelet MAO-B and a delayed fall in prolactin.
Results
A strong enzyme effect in blood; the link to mood is suggestive only.
Effect sizes as reported
MAO-B inhibition 89% (powder), 91% (juice); n = 8 in the 2020 study.
Why this rating
Blood marker, very small trials, mood links come from questionnaires, and the authors are linked to the juice developer.
Form and dose studied
Juice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder.
Who was studied
Healthy adults.
Limits
Marker; tiny samples; no clinical mood outcome.
Why researchers looked
MAO enzymes break down mood-related brain chemicals, so a food that blocks them is of interest.
Traditional use
Blackcurrants are a tart berry, usually cooked, sweetened or made into juice, jam and cordial. Long use as food is not proof of a health benefit.
Proposed mechanism Human biomarker
A compound called sarmentosin was identified as the main blackcurrant substance that blocks MAO-A and MAO-B in lab tests and blocked platelet MAO-B in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the MAO-B and medicines note in the safety tab.
Connections to the rest of health
How Blackcurrants connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Support | Potential benefit | High certainty | Vitamin C source and scurvy prevention: Blackcurrants are a very rich food source of vitamin C. Severe lack of vitamin C causes scurvy, and eating enough vitamin C prevents it. No trial has tested blackcurrants in people with scurvy, so this rests on what vitamin C does, not on a blackcurrant study. | 20 19 18 |
| Heart Health | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Blood vessel function (artery widening test): One small one-day trial found that a blackcurrant drink eaten with a fatty meal improved a test of how well arteries widen. A large 2026 review of anthocyanin trials (from many foods, not just blackcurrants) also found small gains on this test. It is a short-term test, not heart attacks or strokes. Heart disease and type 2 diabetes in long-term population studies: In large population studies, people who ate the most anthocyanins (from many foods) had lower rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This is an association across foods, not proof, and blackcurrants were not singled out. | 1 2 |
| Blood Pressure Support | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar: Pooled trials of anthocyanins in healthy people found no change in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood fats, or blood sugar. A trial of a blackcurrant extract drink found only a minimal effect on total blood sugar after a carbohydrate load. So there is no good evidence that blackcurrants improve these numbers. | 2 12 1 |
| Blood Sugar Balance | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar: Pooled trials of anthocyanins in healthy people found no change in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood fats, or blood sugar. A trial of a blackcurrant extract drink found only a minimal effect on total blood sugar after a carbohydrate load. So there is no good evidence that blackcurrants improve these numbers. Heart disease and type 2 diabetes in long-term population studies: In large population studies, people who ate the most anthocyanins (from many foods) had lower rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This is an association across foods, not proof, and blackcurrants were not singled out. | 2 12 1 |
| Memory Support | Potential benefit | Mixed findings | Thinking, memory and attention: Results are mixed. A juice trial in young adults changed blood-oxygen signals in the front of the brain but did not change test scores. A combination product (blackcurrant with L-theanine and pine bark) helped one attention measure in older adults, but a trial of a blackcurrant freeze-dried product in older people with memory complaints found no effect. A large review of anthocyanin products reported gains, but not for blackcurrants alone. | 14 8 16 9 |
| Cognitive Performance | Potential benefit | Mixed findings | Thinking, memory and attention: Results are mixed. A juice trial in young adults changed blood-oxygen signals in the front of the brain but did not change test scores. A combination product (blackcurrant with L-theanine and pine bark) helped one attention measure in older adults, but a trial of a blackcurrant freeze-dried product in older people with memory complaints found no effect. A large review of anthocyanin products reported gains, but not for blackcurrants alone. | 14 8 16 9 |
| Physical Stamina | Potential benefit | Moderate certainty | Fat burning during exercise (extract): In active adults, blackcurrant extract raised fat burning and lowered carbohydrate burning during exercise in pooled trials. This is about concentrated extracts, not eating berries, and the effect was not the same for every person. Sports performance (extract): Results are mixed. A review of 21 trials found a small-to-moderate average benefit, strongest for repeated sprint-type efforts and weaker or absent for endurance cycling. A trial in 16 trained cyclists found no effect, and a small strength trial found some gains that partly appeared in the placebo group too. | 3 4 10 6 |
| Metabolic Health | Potential benefit | Moderate certainty | Fat burning during exercise (extract): In active adults, blackcurrant extract raised fat burning and lowered carbohydrate burning during exercise in pooled trials. This is about concentrated extracts, not eating berries, and the effect was not the same for every person. | 3 4 |
| Muscle Recovery | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Sports performance (extract): Results are mixed. A review of 21 trials found a small-to-moderate average benefit, strongest for repeated sprint-type efforts and weaker or absent for endurance cycling. A trial in 16 trained cyclists found no effect, and a small strength trial found some gains that partly appeared in the placebo group too. | 4 10 6 |
| Digestive Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Stomach symptoms during hot-weather running (extract): In one tiny pilot of 12 men, seven days of a blackcurrant extract was linked to fewer stomach and gut symptoms during an hour of running in the heat. It is a first observation only. | 15 |
| Healthy Aging | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Bone density and gut bacteria in midlife women: A small six-month pilot in women around the menopause found less loss of whole-body bone density with blackcurrant than with control, along with shifts in gut bacteria. It is a pilot and the inflammation results were only borderline. | 11 |
| Menopause Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Bone density and gut bacteria in midlife women: A small six-month pilot in women around the menopause found less loss of whole-body bone density with blackcurrant than with control, along with shifts in gut bacteria. It is a pilot and the inflammation results were only borderline. | 11 |
| Mental Clarity | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Alertness, mood and the MAO-B blood marker: Blackcurrant juice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder strongly and reversibly blocked an enzyme in blood platelets called MAO-B in small trials of healthy adults. One trial linked this to higher alertness and less mental fatigue. This is a blood marker and a short-term feeling, not a mood treatment. | 7 13 |
| Mood Balance | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Alertness, mood and the MAO-B blood marker: Blackcurrant juice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder strongly and reversibly blocked an enzyme in blood platelets called MAO-B in small trials of healthy adults. One trial linked this to higher alertness and less mental fatigue. This is a blood marker and a short-term feeling, not a mood treatment. | 7 13 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune System | Biological association | High certainty | Studied for: Vitamin C source and scurvy prevention | 20 19 18 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Blood vessel function (artery widening test) Studied for: Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar | 1 2 12 |
| Endocrine System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar | 2 12 1 |
| Nervous System | Biological association | Mixed findings | Studied for: Thinking, memory and attention Studied for: Alertness, mood and the MAO-B blood marker | 14 8 16 9 7 13 |
| Brain Focus | Biological association | Mixed findings | Studied for: Thinking, memory and attention | 14 8 16 9 |
| Metabolism Weight | Biological association | Moderate certainty | Studied for: Fat burning during exercise (extract) | 3 4 |
| Musculoskeletal System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Sports performance (extract) Studied for: Bone density and gut bacteria in midlife women | 4 10 6 11 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Stomach symptoms during hot-weather running (extract) Studied for: Bone density and gut bacteria in midlife women | 15 11 |
C. Body parts and organs
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood vessels | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Artery-widening test improved after a blackcurrant drink in one small trial. Preparation or compound: Blackcurrant drink (anthocyanins) |
1 2 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scurvy | Established for vitamin C | Blackcurrants are a rich vitamin C source; no trial of blackcurrants in scurvy was found. Rich vitamin C food; no blackcurrant scurvy trial. Preparation or compound: Raw blackcurrants (vitamin C content) |
20 19 18 | |
| Kidney stones | Low certainty | Juice raised urine oxalate and citrate and made urine less acidic in 12 men; stone outcome unknown. Preparation or compound: Blackcurrant juice; vitamin C supplements |
5 18 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 1 2 |
| Front-of-brain blood-oxygen signal | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: changed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 14 |
| Blood pressure | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: no clear change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 2 1 |
| Blood glucose after a carbohydrate meal | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered early, not overall. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 12 |
| Fat burning during exercise | Biological association | Moderate certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 3 4 |
| Platelet MAO-B enzyme activity | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 7 13 |
| Whole-body bone mineral density | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: less loss. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 11 |
| Gut symptom score during running | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 15 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthocyanins | Biological association | Human | Linked in trials to small gains in artery widening; the exact compounds responsible in people are not settled. Individual anthocyanins were not looked up in PubChem (NOT verified). Preparation or compound: Berry skin and juice |
1 2 |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | Biological association | Human | Prevents scurvy; needed for blood vessels, skin, bones and wound healing (NHS). Preparation or compound: Berry |
20 19 |
| Sarmentosin | Biological association | Human | Identified as the main blackcurrant compound that blocks MAO-A and MAO-B in the lab and blocked platelet MAO-B in people. PubChem CID found by name search 2026-10-25. Preparation or compound: Fruit (found in juice and freeze-dried powder) |
7 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 4 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Blackcurrants. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We started from our existing blackcurrant summary and re-checked its sources. We searched PubMed for human trials, reviews and safety information and read the abstracts, read the NHS and Linus Pauling Institute vitamin C pages, and took nutrient values from the USDA FoodData Central record. Items we could not verify are flagged in the research gaps.
Study library: every study we checked 20
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amini 2025 Acute Effects of an Anthocyanin-Rich Blackcurrant Beverage on Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial. J Nutr · PMID 40414296 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
23 Healthy middle-aged adults (mean age about 40), crossover trial |
Blackcurrant beverage (a prepared drink, not whole berries) Fruit drink 200 mL drink with 744 mg polyphenols, 711 mg of them anthocyanins (trial detail, not advice) One day, with a high-fat breakfast and lunch · vs Matched placebo drink |
FMD improved cumulatively over 6 hours compared with placebo. Platelet clumping showed only a trend. Lower systolic blood pressure and IL-8 were exploratory and not adjusted for multiple testing. Significant cumulative improvement in FMD over 6 hours (size not given in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD, a test of artery widening) and platelet clumping; secondary: blood pressure, IL-8 Limitations: One day only. A prepared drink, not berries. Healthy people. Secondary results were exploratory. Funding and conflicts: Funding from the UK research council BBSRC and GlaxoSmithKline; one author reports employment at GSK Consumer Health / Haleon. Industry-linked. Registration: NCT02459756 Read: abstract |
| Avendano 2026 Dietary intakes of anthocyanins and cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and prospective cohort studies in healthy participants. Am J Clin Nutr · PMID 42547104 · DOI |
Systematic review |
18 cohorts (27 publications) and 65 randomised trials in healthy people | Anthocyanins from foods and supplements (the abstract does not single out blackcurrants) Trials needed at least 50 mg a day of anthocyanins Chronic (1 day or more) and acute (1 day or less) trials · vs Control |
Cohorts, highest vs lowest habitual intake: 26% lower CVD incidence (4 studies), 18% lower heart attack (5), 11% lower type 2 diabetes (8), 9% lower CVD death (10), 8% lower hypertension (6); stroke unaffected. Trials: FMD improved with chronic use (+1.41 points) and acute use (+1.50 points); insulin fell slightly (-2.24 pmol/L). Lipids, blood pressure, glucose and insulin resistance were unaffected. The reviewers graded evidence as moderate for CVD and heart attack in cohorts, strong for acute FMD and moderate for chronic FMD. Chronic FMD +1.41% (95% CI 0.90 to 1.91); acute FMD +1.50% (1.16 to 1.84) (See effect) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Flow-mediated dilation, insulin, lipids, blood pressure, glucose; cohort risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes Limitations: Anthocyanins from many foods and supplements, not blackcurrants alone. Cohort findings are associations. Healthy people only. Funding and conflicts: Partly supported by the US Highbush Blueberry Council (a blueberry industry body); the funder had no stated role in the analysis. The last author advises the council's grant committee and has received blueberry-trial funding from it. Industry-linked. Registration: PROSPERO CRD420251015416 Read: abstract |
| Cook 2026 Blackcurrant Anthocyanin Supplementation Alters Exercise-Induced Substrate Utilization - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Diet Suppl · PMID 41631820 · DOI |
Systematic review |
226 15 controlled trials in physically active adults aged 18 to 65 |
Blackcurrant extract and other blackcurrant supplement forms Mostly extracts Varied Varied · vs Placebo or control |
Fat burning rose by 0.042 g per minute (P < 0.001) and carbohydrate burning fell by 0.099 g per minute (P = 0.012). The authors say the finding was not consistent for every person. Fat oxidation +0.042 g per min; carbohydrate oxidation -0.099 g per min (See effect) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Fat and carbohydrate burning during exercise Limitations: Supplements in active adults. Results varied with training status, sex, dose and duration. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Registration: PROSPERO CRD420251030222 Read: abstract |
| Gholamian 2026 Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Supplementation on Sports Performance: A Systematic Review. Curr Dev Nutr · PMID 42371496 · DOI |
Systematic review |
21 randomised crossover trials in adults | New Zealand blackcurrant supplement Supplement Varied Varied · vs Placebo |
Small-to-moderate average effect on performance (d = 0.44), largest for repeated high-intensity team-style efforts (d = 0.6), smaller and variable for endurance cycling and absent under low oxygen. Fat burning improved more consistently. The reviewers rated certainty low for performance and moderate for metabolic outcomes. Mean d = 0.44 for performance Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Sport performance and metabolic outcomes Limitations: Different doses, sports and designs; small trials. Funding and conflicts: The authors report no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| Kessler 2002 Effect of blackcurrant-, cranberry- and plum juice consumption on risk factors associated with kidney stone formation. Eur J Clin Nutr · PMID 12373623 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
12 12 healthy men aged 18 to 38, on a set diet |
Blackcurrant juice (compared with cranberry and plum juice) Juice 330 mL of juice replaced mineral water (trial detail) Loading phase on a controlled diet · vs Mineral water |
Blackcurrant juice made urine less acidic and raised citric acid and oxalic acid excretion, all statistically significant. The authors suggest the alkalising effect could help in uric acid stone disease. Urine pH, citrate and oxalate all higher Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: 24-hour urine: acidity, citrate, oxalate Limitations: 12 healthy men, short, urine markers only, not stone events. Funding and conflicts: Funded by the authors' own university division. Read: abstract |
| Koozehchian 2026 Effects of Short-Term Low- and High-Dose New Zealand Blackcurrant Supplementation on Exercise and Cognitive Performance in Resistance-Trained Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study. Nutrients · PMID 42356316 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
20 Resistance-trained adults, crossover trial |
New Zealand blackcurrant supplement Capsule supplement 250 mg or 600 mg a day (trial detail) 7 days per condition · vs Placebo capsule and a no-capsule control |
Some lifting and power results were better than placebo, others no different. Wingate sprint results were unchanged. The placebo group also beat the no-capsule control on leg press, so some gains may be expectation or repeat-testing effects. Side effects were similar across conditions. Bench press 1RM higher than both control and placebo Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Lifting strength, power, a Stroop test, adverse events Limitations: Small; many outcomes; placebo effect noted by the authors. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| Lomiwes 2024 Identification of Sarmentosin as a Key Bioactive from Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) for Inhibiting Platelet Monoamine Oxidase in Humans. J Agric Food Chem · PMID 39028868 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
Healthy adults, double-blind crossover (number not given in the abstract) plus lab isolation work | Freeze-dried whole blackcurrant powder compared with blackcurrant juice Whole fruit powder and juice Not given in the abstract Single dose · vs Placebo |
Platelet MAO-B was inhibited by 89% with powder and 91% with juice. The inhibition tracked with blood catecholamines, alertness and less mental fatigue. A compound called sarmentosin was identified as the main active. MAO-B inhibition 89 +/- 6% (powder), 91 +/- 4% (juice) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Platelet MAO-B activity (a blood enzyme), plasma catecholamines, alertness and mental fatigue questionnaire Limitations: Blood marker. Sample size not in the abstract. Whether the change matters for health or medicines is not tested. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no competing financial interest. Read: abstract |
| Lomiwes 2026 Four-week supplementation with a blackcurrant formulation enhances cognitive performance, reduces mental fatigue and modulates peripheral monoamine metabolism in older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Front Pharmacol · PMID 42876903 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
26 Healthy older adults (about 62 years), 26 of 30 completed, crossover trial |
Blackcurrant formula: freeze-dried blackcurrant plus L-theanine and pine bark extract (a combination product) Freeze-dried fruit 7.8 mg anthocyanins per kg body weight plus 200 mg L-theanine and 100 mg pine bark extract (trial detail) 4 weeks per arm, 2-week washout · vs Placebo |
After 4 weeks, fewer false alarms on one attention task (p = 0.022) and a trend to less mental fatigue (p = 0.046, q = 0.067). Markers of MAO activity fell after a single dose. RVIP false alarms p = 0.022 Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Cognitive tests, mood, platelet MAO-B activity and blood neurotransmitter markers Limitations: Combination product, so the effect cannot be put down to blackcurrant. Small. Many outcomes tested. Funding and conflicts: One author was previously chief scientific officer of Arepa IP Limited and is a named inventor on a pending patent related to the technology. Industry-linked. Registration: ACTRN12621001590853 Read: abstract |
| Micek 2026 The effect of anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich foods on cognitive function: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Geroscience · PMID 41351717 · DOI |
Meta-analysis |
59 randomised trials of anthocyanin products and anthocyanin-rich foods | Anthocyanin supplements and anthocyanin-rich foods (not blackcurrant-specific) Mixed Varied Varied · vs Controls |
Global cognition improved (standardised difference 0.46). Visuospatial/attention, processing speed, verbal fluency, episodic memory and working memory also improved. Heterogeneity was high for several domains. The authors call for better trials. Global cognition SMD 0.46 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.63) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Global cognition and individual cognitive domains Limitations: Many different products. Not blackcurrant-specific. High heterogeneity (I2 up to 76%) in several domains. Funding and conflicts: No relevant conflict declared in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Morton 2025 No Effect of Acute or Chronic New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Cycling Performance or Physiological Responses in Trained Cyclists. Eur J Sport Sci · PMID 39910796 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
16 Trained cyclists (mean age 37), crossover trial |
New Zealand blackcurrant extract Extract Not given in the abstract Single dose and 7 days · vs Placebo |
No significant difference in cycling performance or physiology after one dose or 7 days. No significant effect (p > 0.05) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Cycling time trial and physiology Limitations: Small. Trained cyclists only. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Registration: ACTRN12622001277730 Read: abstract |
| Nosal 2024 Blackcurrants shape gut microbiota profile and reduce risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis via the gut-bone axis: Evidence from a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Nutr Biochem · PMID 39019119 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
40 Peri- and early postmenopausal women aged 45 to 60; 51 enrolled, 40 completed |
Blackcurrant (the abstract does not say what form) 392 mg a day (low) or 784 mg a day (high) (trial detail) 6 months · vs Control (placebo) |
Blackcurrant reduced the loss of whole-body bone density (P < .05). Changes in IL-1 beta and RANKL for the high group were only borderline (P = .056, .052). One gut bacterial group rose with dose. Less loss of whole-body bone mineral density (P < .05) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whole-body bone mineral density, gut bacteria, inflammation markers Limitations: Pilot study, 40 women, borderline inflammation results, form of blackcurrant not stated in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Registration: NCT04431960 Read: abstract |
| Pinto 2023 Acute effects of drinks containing blackcurrant and citrus (poly)phenols and dietary fibre on postprandial glycaemia, gut hormones, cognitive function and appetite in healthy adults: two randomised controlled trials. Food Funct · PMID 37902089 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
66 Healthy adults: 29 completed one trial and 37 the other, crossover |
Blackcurrant extract drinks (alone and with orange extract or orange fibre) Extract in a 200 mL drink 800 or 1600 mg polyphenols per drink (trial detail) Single dose with 75 g carbohydrate · vs Placebo drink |
The lower-polyphenol blackcurrant drink reduced early (0 to 30 min) blood glucose, with no difference in peak or total glucose response. The authors call the effect on total glucose minimal. Insulin and a gut hormone (GIP) were lowered. Appetite was unaffected. Early glucose lower; total glucose response not different Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood glucose, insulin and gut hormones after the carbohydrate; appetite; cognition Limitations: Extract drinks, healthy people, single dose. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Registration: NCT03184064; NCT03572296 Read: abstract |
| Watson 2020 The pharmacodynamic profile of "Blackadder" blackcurrant juice effects upon the monoamine axis in humans: A randomised controlled trial. Nutr Neurosci · PMID 30289026 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
8 Healthy men aged 20 to 35, crossover trial |
'Blackadder' blackcurrant juice Juice Standardised to 500 mg polyphenols Single dose, sampled to 24 hours · vs Placebo |
A fast, complete and reversible inhibition of platelet MAO-B, and a delayed fall in prolactin. No interpretable change in the substances that MAO breaks down. MAO-B inhibition P < 0.001 Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Platelet MAO-B activity, prolactin, blood glucose Limitations: 8 men, one dose, blood markers. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Authors include staff of Plant and Food Research (New Zealand). Read: abstract |
| Watson 2026 Effects of blackcurrant juice on pre-frontal cortical haemodynamics and cognition in healthy young adults. Nutr Neurosci · PMID 40999681 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
20 Healthy adults aged 18 to 35, crossover trial |
Cold-pressed 'Blackadder' blackcurrant juice drink Fruit juice Standardised to 500 mg total polyphenols (trial detail, not advice) Single dose, tested after a 60-minute wait · vs Placebo drink |
Deoxygenated haemoglobin fell at rest and oxygenated haemoglobin rose in the left side of the brain during the task. No effect on cognition. Deoxygenated haemoglobin F(1,19) = 5.70, p = 0.027; left oxygenated haemoglobin p = 0.002; no cognitive effect Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood-oxygen signals in the front of the brain (near infrared spectroscopy), attention and working memory Limitations: Single dose, healthy young adults. Brain blood-flow signal is not a health outcome. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. One author is affiliated with the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, the maker of the juice product. Registration: NCT01540123 Read: abstract |
| Willems 2025 Anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract reduces treadmill running-induced gastrointestinal symptoms in the heat: pilot observations. Res Sports Med · PMID 39996414 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
12 Recreationally active men, mean age 28 |
New Zealand blackcurrant extract (a branded product) Extract 210 mg anthocyanins a day (trial detail) 7 days · vs Placebo |
With placebo 11 of 12 men (92%) had symptoms; with the extract the abstract reports 4 men (given as 25%, so the abstract's own figures do not fully agree). The total symptom score was lower (112 vs 54, p = 0.04). Symptom score 112 vs 54, p = 0.04 Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Stomach and gut symptoms during one hour of running in the heat Limitations: Pilot, 12 men, running in heat. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| do Rosario 2026 The effect of anthocyanins through diet and supplementation on cognitive function in older adults: a multi-centre randomised controlled clinical trial. Food Funct · PMID 41879044 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
110 Adults aged 60 to 85 with memory complaints, 94 completed |
Freeze-dried product from blackcurrants (and a high-anthocyanin diet arm) Freeze-dried fruit product 250 mg anthocyanins a day in the supplement arm (trial detail) 24 weeks · vs Placebo |
No treatment-by-time effect on any primary or secondary outcome. No effect on any outcome Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Auditory episodic memory (primary), other cognitive tests, mood, blood pressure, inflammation, lipids, blood vessel function Limitations: Participants were generally well; the authors suggest testing people with diagnosed impairment. Funding and conflicts: Sponsored by the Australian NHMRC Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (public funder). Read: abstract |
| s-gbif-ribes-nigrum GBIF Backbone: Ribes nigrum L. (usageKey 2986192) · Source |
Reference database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-lpi-vitamin-c Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University: Vitamin C (Micronutrient Information Center) · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-nhs-vitamin-c NHS: Vitamin C (page last reviewed 3 August 2020, next review was due 2023) · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-usda-fdc-173963 USDA FoodData Central: Currants, european black, raw (FDC 173963, SR Legacy, published 2019) · Source |
Reference database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text |
What we do not know yet
- No trial has tested eating whole blackcurrant berries for a health outcome; trials used drinks, juice, extracts, freeze-dried products or combination formulas.
- No trial in people with scurvy or low vitamin C was found for blackcurrants.
- No heart attack, stroke, diabetes or dementia outcome was measured in any blackcurrant trial.
- No pregnancy, breastfeeding, child, allergy or medicine-interaction data for blackcurrants as a food were found.
- Pesticide residues, heavy metals and fibre and sugar content were not researched or are missing from the USDA record used.
- EMA, FDA, NCCIH, LactMed and LiverTox entries were not found or read.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue before the page changes.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 8
Flow-mediated dilation (FMD)
Raised in trials
An ultrasound test of how much an arm artery widens after blood flow is briefly blocked and released. Better widening suggests healthier blood vessel lining.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A common short-term stand-in for blood vessel health.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Small gain in a test measure; not shown to prevent heart disease.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Significant cumulative improvement over 6 hours after a blackcurrant drink with a high-fat meal, compared with placebo | 23 healthy adults | 200 mL blackcurrant drink (711 mg anthocyanins) |
| 2 | Improved by about 1.4 to 1.5 percentage points in pooled trials of anthocyanins from many sources | 65 randomised trials in healthy people | Anthocyanins from foods and supplements |
Front-of-brain blood-oxygen signal
Changed in trials
A light-based scan (near infrared spectroscopy) of the oxygen carried in blood just under the forehead while someone rests or does a task.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Used as an indirect sign of blood flow to the brain during thinking.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Shows the juice acts on a brain measure; did not improve cognition in this trial.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Less deoxygenated haemoglobin at rest (p = 0.027) and more oxygenated haemoglobin on the left during the task (p = 0.002); no change in test scores | 20 healthy adults aged 18 to 35 | Blackcurrant juice, single dose |
Blood pressure
No clear change in trials
The force of blood on artery walls.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A main heart and stroke risk factor.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
No dependable effect shown.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Blood pressure unaffected in pooled anthocyanin trials in healthy people | 65 randomised trials | Anthocyanins from foods and supplements |
| 1 | Lower systolic blood pressure after the blackcurrant drink, labelled exploratory and not adjusted for multiple testing | 23 healthy adults | Blackcurrant drink, one day |
Blood glucose after a carbohydrate meal
Lowered early, not overall in trials
How high blood sugar goes in the hours after eating or drinking a measured amount of carbohydrate.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A short-term marker of blood sugar control.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
The authors call the effect on total blood sugar minimal.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Lower glucose in the first 30 minutes with the lower-polyphenol blackcurrant extract drink; peak and total glucose response not different | 29 healthy adults in one trial (37 in a second trial) | Blackcurrant extract drink, single dose |
Fat burning during exercise
Raised in trials
How many grams of fat the body burns each minute during exercise, measured from breath gases.
Moderate certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Used to study how the body chooses fuel.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Consistent on average, not for every person; not weight loss.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | +0.042 g per minute fat burning, -0.099 g per minute carbohydrate burning | 15 trials, 226 active adults | Blackcurrant extract |
Platelet MAO-B enzyme activity
Lowered in trials
How active the enzyme monoamine oxidase B is in blood platelets. It breaks down some mood-related brain chemicals.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Used as an easy blood stand-in for MAO activity.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A strong enzyme effect; the clinical meaning, including for people on MAO inhibitor medicines, is untested.
Safety implication
Possible relevance to MAO inhibitor medicines; no case reports found.
Whole-body bone mineral density
Less loss in trials
A scan measure of how much mineral is in the bones.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Falling bone density raises the risk of fractures later.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A pilot result; no fractures were counted.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Less loss of whole-body bone mineral density than control (P < .05) | 40 women completed | Blackcurrant, 6 months |
Gut symptom score during running
Lowered in trials
A rating scale of stomach and gut symptoms (belching, stitch, nausea) during and after exercise.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Gut upset is a common problem in hard exercise in the heat.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Small pilot, one hot-weather test.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Total symptom score 54 vs 112 on placebo (p = 0.04) | 12 active men | Blackcurrant extract for 7 days |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 4
- Eating blackcurrants: no specific safety problem found, but allergy is always possible. We read no source that names a safety problem with blackcurrants eaten as food. We also found no blackcurrant-specific allergy report or official allergy statement; a PubMed search returned only lab and supplement papers. Any food can cause an allergic reaction. This is an absence of evidence, not proof that allergy never happens. Absence of evidence
- Extracts, powders and combination products are not the food. Most human trials used juice, extracts, freeze-dried products or combination formulas. The abstracts we read mostly do not report side effects. One strength trial of New Zealand blackcurrant capsules reported that adverse events were similar across conditions. Small, short trials cannot rule out rarer problems. Controlled trial 6
- Blackcurrant juice and whole-fruit powder block an enzyme (MAO-B) in the blood. In healthy adults, blackcurrant juice and freeze-dried whole-fruit powder reduced platelet MAO-B activity by about 90%, and the effect was fast and reversible. MAO enzymes are also the target of MAO inhibitor antidepressants. No case report or trial of blackcurrants with such medicines was found, so whether this matters is unknown. Biomarker human 7 13
- Blackcurrant juice changed urine in ways relevant to kidney stones. In 12 healthy men, 330 mL a day of blackcurrant juice made urine less acidic and raised citric acid and oxalic acid in the urine. The authors saw a possible benefit for uric acid stones because of the less acidic urine. No stone outcome was measured. Separately, the Linus Pauling Institute says high-dose vitamin C supplements raise urine oxalate and that stone-prone people may consider avoiding them. Controlled trial 5 18
Side effects 3
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stomach pain, diarrhoea and wind from very high vitamin C supplement intake The NHS figure is for more than 1,000 mg a day of vitamin C supplements. It is not about eating berries. | Not established | mild The NHS says symptoms should disappear once the supplements are stopped. | Authoritative guidance 19 |
| Higher urine oxalate after blackcurrant juice A urine marker, not a stone. Juice, not whole berries. | All 12 men were analysed together; the change was statistically significant | unknown (lab marker) Not reported in the abstract. | Controlled trial 5 |
| Allergic reaction No blackcurrant-specific allergy source was found. Any food can cause an allergic reaction. | Not established | can be severe in general Not applicable. | Absence of evidence |
Liver
No liver injury linked to blackcurrants was found in the sources read. LiverTox was not checked for this food.
How often. No frequency was found.
Monitoring. No agency advice was found.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Blackcurrants supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 4
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAO inhibitor antidepressants (and other medicines that act on the same enzyme) prescription | A blackcurrant compound called sarmentosin blocked platelet MAO-B in healthy adults after juice or whole-fruit powder. | Only a blood enzyme marker was measured in healthy people. No trial or case report with MAO inhibitor medicines was found. Concentrated juice, powder and extract are the products tested, not a bowl of berries. | Biomarker human Low certainty 7 13 | If you take an MAO inhibitor or another medicine that affects mood chemicals, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using concentrated blackcurrant juice, powder or extract products. |
| Warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists prescription | Some leafy foods contain vitamin K, which works against these medicines. | The USDA record for raw black currants lists no vitamin K value, and no source about blackcurrants and warfarin was found. Nothing is claimed either way. | Absence of evidence Not enough evidence 20 | A pharmacist can check any food or product against your medicines. |
| Potassium-affecting medicines, or kidney disease with a potassium limit prescription | Fruit contains potassium. USDA lists 322 mg per 100 g of raw black currants (about 361 mg in a cup of 112 g). | No source on blackcurrants and kidney disease or potassium-affecting medicines was read. The potassium figure is a measured food value, not a warning. | Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence 20 | If you have kidney disease or take medicines that raise blood potassium, ask your clinician how much fruit suits you. |
| High-dose vitamin C supplements supplement | Supplemental vitamin C raises urine oxalate (Linus Pauling Institute). | This concerns vitamin C pills, not blackcurrants as food. Whether the extra oxalate raises stone risk is not known. | Authoritative guidance Low certainty 18 19 | Stone-prone people may consider avoiding high-dose vitamin C supplements, according to the Linus Pauling Institute; ask your doctor. |
Who should check first 3
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Known allergy to blackcurrant | Avoid it. We found no data on cross-reaction with other berries. | Absence of evidence |
| Taking an MAO inhibitor medicine and thinking of using concentrated blackcurrant juice, powder or extract | Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. This is a precaution based on a blood enzyme effect; no harm has been reported. | Biomarker human 7 13 |
| A history of kidney stones, with concentrated blackcurrant juice or high-dose vitamin C pills | Ask your doctor. Juice raised urine oxalate in a small trial and vitamin C pills raise it too; the effect on stones is not known. | Controlled trial 5 18 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. No toxicity data on the fruit were read beyond trial safety statements. Leaves, seeds and seed oil were not covered.
Animal. Not reviewed.
Human doses studied. Trials ranged from one serve of a drink to 6 months of a blackcurrant product (see study records).
High dose or long term signals. No harm signal was found in the abstracts read; follow-up was short and most abstracts do not discuss safety.
Overdose response. Not found.
Genotoxicity. Not researched.
Pesticide residues, heavy metals and mould were not researched for blackcurrants. A PubMed search for these returned no relevant papers.
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| NHS (UK) (United Kingdom) | Vitamin C page lists blackcurrants as a good source, says lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, and says more than 1,000 mg a day of supplements can cause stomach pain, diarrhoea and wind. source | Page last reviewed 3 August 2020 (next review was due August 2023) |
| Linus Pauling Institute (Oregon State University) (United States) | Vitamin C page describes scurvy and says supplemental vitamin C raises urine oxalate, with unknown effect on stone risk. source | Current page (2026) |
| USDA FoodData Central (United States) | Nutrient record for raw European black currants (FDC 173963) source | Published 2019 (SR Legacy) |
When to get medical help
- Swelling of the lips, face or throat, or trouble breathing after eating or drinking a blackcurrant product: treat as an emergency and call your local emergency number
- Hives, vomiting or dizziness soon after eating blackcurrants (possible allergy)
- Easy bruising, wounds that heal poorly, or joint pain, especially if your diet has been very limited for a long time (symptoms of scurvy per the Linus Pauling Institute)
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are blackcurrants high in vitamin C?
Do blackcurrants prevent scurvy?
Are blackcurrants good for your heart or blood vessels?
Do blackcurrants lower blood pressure or cholesterol?
Do blackcurrants help blood sugar?
Do blackcurrants help memory or focus?
Does blackcurrant extract improve sports performance?
Are juice and extracts the same as eating the berries?
Do blackcurrants interact with medicines?
Can blackcurrants cause kidney stones?
Are blackcurrants safe in pregnancy, or for children?
We found no blackcurrant-specific advice from an official body. Ask your midwife, doctor or pharmacist, especially about concentrated juices and supplements.
Can you be allergic to blackcurrants?
Any food can cause an allergy. We found no blackcurrant-specific allergy information. For swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing, seek emergency help.
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against the sources listed.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We started from our existing blackcurrant summary and re-checked its sources. We searched PubMed for human trials, reviews and safety information and read the abstracts, read the NHS and Linus Pauling Institute vitamin C pages, and took nutrient values from the USDA FoodData Central record. Items we could not verify are flagged in the research gaps.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. Several trials were industry-linked or used branded products; we say so where the abstract shows it.
Sources 20
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Amini AM, Zhou R, Austermann K, et al.. Acute Effects of an Anthocyanin-Rich Blackcurrant Beverage on Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial.. J Nutr. 2025. PMID 40414296. DOI 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.05.017. (abstract)
- Avendano EE, Ellingson H, Digga E, et al.. Dietary intakes of anthocyanins and cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and prospective cohort studies in healthy participants.. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026. PMID 42547104. DOI 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101304. (abstract)
- Cook MD, Bateman JJ, Willems MET. Blackcurrant Anthocyanin Supplementation Alters Exercise-Induced Substrate Utilization - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. J Diet Suppl. 2026. PMID 41631820. DOI 10.1080/19390211.2026.2624114. (abstract)
- Gholamian S, Ebrahimi S, Razmdideh A, et al.. Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Supplementation on Sports Performance: A Systematic Review.. Curr Dev Nutr. 2026. PMID 42371496. DOI 10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.109388. (abstract)
- Kessler T, Jansen B, Hesse A. Effect of blackcurrant-, cranberry- and plum juice consumption on risk factors associated with kidney stone formation.. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002. PMID 12373623. DOI 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601442. (abstract)
- Koozehchian MS, Bonness FM, Rafajlovska R, et al.. Effects of Short-Term Low- and High-Dose New Zealand Blackcurrant Supplementation on Exercise and Cognitive Performance in Resistance-Trained Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study.. Nutrients. 2026. PMID 42356316. DOI 10.3390/nu18121929. (abstract)
- Lomiwes D, Gunther CS, Bloor SJ, et al.. Identification of Sarmentosin as a Key Bioactive from Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) for Inhibiting Platelet Monoamine Oxidase in Humans.. J Agric Food Chem. 2024. PMID 39028868. DOI 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03802. (abstract)
- Lomiwes D, Gunther CS, Kanon AP, et al.. Four-week supplementation with a blackcurrant formulation enhances cognitive performance, reduces mental fatigue and modulates peripheral monoamine metabolism in older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.. Front Pharmacol. 2026. PMID 42876903. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2026.1896655. (abstract)
- Micek A, Godos J, Giampieri F, et al.. The effect of anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich foods on cognitive function: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. Geroscience. 2026. PMID 41351717. DOI 10.1007/s11357-025-02008-7. (abstract)
- Morton LC, Paton CD, Aberkane R, Braakhuis AJ. No Effect of Acute or Chronic New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Cycling Performance or Physiological Responses in Trained Cyclists.. Eur J Sport Sci. 2025. PMID 39910796. DOI 10.1002/ejsc.12267. (abstract)
- Nosal BM, Thornton SN, Darooghegi Mofrad M, et al.. Blackcurrants shape gut microbiota profile and reduce risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis via the gut-bone axis: Evidence from a pilot randomized controlled trial.. J Nutr Biochem. 2024. PMID 39019119. DOI 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109701. (abstract)
- Pinto AM, Hobden MR, Brown KD, et al.. Acute effects of drinks containing blackcurrant and citrus (poly)phenols and dietary fibre on postprandial glycaemia, gut hormones, cognitive function and appetite in healthy adults: two randomised controlled trials.. Food Funct. 2023. PMID 37902089. DOI 10.1039/d3fo03085g. (abstract)
- Watson AW, Scheepens A, Kennedy DO, et al.. The pharmacodynamic profile of "Blackadder" blackcurrant juice effects upon the monoamine axis in humans: A randomised controlled trial.. Nutr Neurosci. 2020. PMID 30289026. DOI 10.1080/1028415X.2018.1525950. (abstract)
- Watson AW, Scheepens A, Kennedy DO, Haskell-Ramsay CF. Effects of blackcurrant juice on pre-frontal cortical haemodynamics and cognition in healthy young adults.. Nutr Neurosci. 2026. PMID 40999681. DOI 10.1080/1028415X.2025.2538062. (abstract)
- Willems MET, Flood TR, Kuennen MR, Lee BJ. Anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract reduces treadmill running-induced gastrointestinal symptoms in the heat: pilot observations.. Res Sports Med. 2025. PMID 39996414. DOI 10.1080/15438627.2025.2471380. (abstract)
- do Rosario V, Chan K, Lorzadeh E, et al.. The effect of anthocyanins through diet and supplementation on cognitive function in older adults: a multi-centre randomised controlled clinical trial.. Food Funct. 2026. PMID 41879044. DOI 10.1039/d5fo05366h. (abstract)
- . GBIF Backbone: Ribes nigrum L. (usageKey 2986192). . . (full-text)
- . Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University: Vitamin C (Micronutrient Information Center). . . (full-text)
- . NHS: Vitamin C (page last reviewed 3 August 2020, next review was due 2023). . . (full-text)
- . USDA FoodData Central: Currants, european black, raw (FDC 173963, SR Legacy, published 2019). . . (full-text)
Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- Unsweetened with no added sugar, if you want the fruit alone
- Sulfur dioxide (sulfites) listed on the label: some people react
- A best-by date and a resealable bag
- Dried fruit is high in sugar and calories, so watch portions
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
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