Maqui Berry (Aristotelia chilensis): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis): what the fruit is, what a 2026 review of 12 human trials found for blood sugar, dry eye and other uses, and what is unknown about safety.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Maqui berry good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Blood sugar after meals
Preliminary or mixedIn short studies, maqui extract lowered blood sugar after a meal and changed the insulin response.
Supplements: Promising in acute studies; long-term effects on HbA1c and other markers were modest and inconsistent. Certainty ranged from moderate to very low.
Dry eye and tear production
Preliminary or mixedTrials found better tear production, fewer dry eye symptoms and lower tear inflammation markers.
Supplements: Small, short trials; certainty is low to moderate. Larger standardised trials are needed.
Cholesterol and blood fats
Preliminary or mixedLong-term studies showed small and inconsistent changes in blood fats and other heart-and-metabolism markers.
Supplements: No reliable benefit shown.
Antioxidant and oxidative stress markers
Preliminary or mixedSome studies showed better oxidative stress and autonomic markers, but these are lab measures, not health outcomes.
Supplements: Surrogate endpoints only; health benefit not shown.
Traditional use
Not enough evidenceTraditional use is not described in the sources we read, so we do not describe it. Traditional use would not be proof of benefit anyway.
Supplements: No evidence for 'superfood', immune, cancer, weight loss, heart outcome or memory claims was found in what we read.
Safety and medicine interactions
Not enough evidenceSafety and adverse events are not reported in the abstract we read. Because it lowered after-meal blood sugar, people on diabetes medicines are advised to ask a pharmacist.
Supplements: Not applicable; safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, liver or kidney disease is not described.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Blood Sugar BalancePreliminary or mixed
In short trials maqui lowered blood sugar after a meal. Long-term effects were small and inconsistent, so it is not shown to help blood sugar control over time.
Body systems (1)
- Blood Sugar SupportPreliminary or mixed
Meal-time blood sugar fell in acute studies; long-term effects on HbA1c were modest and inconsistent.
Body parts (1)
- EyesPreliminary or mixed
Small trials found better tear production and dry eye symptoms. Certainty ranged from moderate to very low.
Functional actions (1)
- Blood Sugar RegulationPreliminary or mixed
Acute studies consistently showed lower blood sugar after a meal and a changed insulin response; chronic results were inconsistent.
Root causes (1)
- Blood Sugar ImbalancePreliminary or mixed
Maqui lowered after-meal blood sugar in short studies, but long-term benefit is unclear.
Biomarkers (2)
- Blood GlucosePreliminary or mixed
Lower after-meal (postprandial) glucose was seen consistently in acute studies.
- InsulinPreliminary or mixed
Acute studies reported a changed insulin response; the direction and size are not given in the abstract we read.
Conditions & symptoms (1)
- Dry Eye SyndromesPreliminary or mixed
Trials found better tear production and symptoms; certainty is low to moderate and larger trials are needed.
Maqui research is limited, and safety is not well described in what we read. The abstract we read from a 2026 review of human trials reports no safety findings. [1] Ask a pharmacist before using maqui extract with blood sugar medicines. [1]
What maqui is
Maqui is Aristotelia chilensis, an accepted species in the Elaeocarpaceae family. [2] It is a Chilean native fruit rich in anthocyanins. [1] The berry is the plant part used, and the trials reviewed used oral supplements. A study of one extract does not tell us about another.Traditional use (not proof)
Traditional use is not described in the sources we read, so this page does not describe it. Claims about "superfood" status are marketing claims.What research shows
A 2026 systematic review included 12 human trials published between 2014 and 2023 of oral maqui supplementation in adults. The authors say its clinical efficacy remains unclear. [1]| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Blood sugar right after a meal | Acute studies consistently showed reduced postprandial glucose and changed insulin response. [1] | Promising but limited |
| Long-term blood sugar, cholesterol | Modest and inconsistent effects on HbA1c, lipids and other markers. [1] | Mixed |
| Dry eye | Improved tear production, symptoms and tear inflammation markers; the most consistent area. [1] | Promising but limited |
| Oxidative stress markers | Favorable changes mostly in surrogate endpoints. [1] | Insufficient evidence |
Certainty overall ranged from moderate to very low because of method differences, small samples and short durations. [1] Larger, longer randomized trials with standardized products are needed before firm recommendations. [1]
Proper evidence not found in what we read: cancer, weight loss, heart disease outcomes, memory and "immune" claims. We searched PubMed for maqui trials and reviews and read the 2026 review abstract. We did not rely on single small trials of branded extracts.
Safety
- Medicines: Because acute studies showed lower glucose, ask a pharmacist about diabetes medicines. [1] Interactions are not described in the sources we read. See how interactions work.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, older adults, liver and kidney: not described in the sources we read. See pregnancy and breastfeeding and children and teens.
- Surgery: tell your surgical team about all supplements. See supplements before surgery.
- Allergy and contamination: not described in the sources we read. See quality testing and certifications.
Related pages
Bilberry, goji and herbs studied for blood sugar.Frequently asked questions
What is maqui berry?
A Chilean native fruit of Aristotelia chilensis, rich in anthocyanins. [1]
Does maqui lower blood sugar?
Acute studies reduced blood sugar after a meal, but long-term effects were inconsistent. [1]
Does maqui help dry eye?
Trials improved tear production and symptoms, though certainty is low to moderate. [1]
Is maqui proven to prevent disease?
No. Authors say efficacy remains unclear. [1]
Is maqui safe with diabetes medicines?
Not established in the sources we read. Ask a pharmacist. [1]
References
- Clinical evidence on the health effects of Aristotelia chilensis (maqui berry) supplementation: systematic review of human trials. Antioxidants, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Aristotelia chilensis. Read 2026-10-23.