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Limited evidenceHeart & metabolic

Maqui Berry

A delphinidin-rich Chilean berry with a real, replicated acute effect on post-meal glucose and the most consistent signal in dry eye — but chronic cardiometabolic effects are inconsistent and most trials are small and funded by the extract's manufacturer.

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What the science says

  • Lowers postprandial glucose Moderate evidence

    A standardised extract (Delphinol, ~35% delphinidins) at 180 mg taken before an oral glucose tolerance test lowered fasting and post-load glucose and insulin in prediabetic adults, with sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibition proposed as the mechanism. A 2026 systematic review of 12 human trials confirmed that acute glycemic effects were consistent, but found chronic effects on HbA1c and lipids modest and inconsistent.

  • Improves dry eye symptoms Moderate evidence

    The 2026 systematic review rated the ocular domain as the most consistent, with maqui extract at roughly 30–60 mg/day improving tear production, dry-eye symptom scores and tear inflammatory markers over 4–8 weeks. Trial sizes were small and duration short.

  • General antioxidant and anti-aging benefit Limited evidence

    Reported benefits are on surrogate biomarkers (oxidised LDL, oxidative-stress panels, autonomic measures) rather than clinical endpoints. Across the 12 trials, GRADE certainty ranged from moderate to very low because of small samples, methodological heterogeneity and short duration; two authors of the review were employed by a berry company.

  • Whole maqui powder works like the extract Limited evidence

    Every positive trial used a standardised delphinidin-enriched extract, not whole freeze-dried berry. Powder products typically declare total anthocyanins without specifying delphinidin content, so there is no basis for assuming equivalence at label doses.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseGlycemic trials used 180 mg of standardised extract (~35% delphinidins) taken 30–60 minutes before a carbohydrate load; ocular trials used 30–60 mg/day for 4–8 weeks. Whole-berry powders are commonly sold at 500–1000 mg/day, a dose with no direct trial support.
SafetyNo serious adverse events reported, but all trials ran three months or less, so long-term safety is unknown. Because maqui lowers post-meal glucose, it can be theoretically additive with insulin or sulfonylureas — monitor blood glucose if you take those. Anthocyanins may have mild antiplatelet activity in vitro; caution is reasonable around surgery or with anticoagulants. Not studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

How to take it

TimingFor the glucose effect take it 30-60 minutes before a carbohydrate meal; the eye studies used a fixed daily dose.
With food?Shortly before the meal for the glucose effect, otherwise either way.
Worth knowingWhole-berry powders at 500-1,000 mg are not the standardised delphinidin extract the trials used.

Interactions

With medications

  • insulin and sulfonylureas

    Maqui lowers post-meal glucose, which can be additive. monitor blood glucose when you start

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does maqui berry lower blood sugar?

A standardised maqui berry extract at 180 mg taken 30-60 minutes before a carbohydrate load consistently lowers post-meal glucose (moderate evidence). Chronic effects on HbA1c and lipids have been modest and inconsistent.

Does maqui berry help dry eyes?

Dry eye is maqui berry's most consistent benefit: extract at roughly 30-60 mg/day for 4-8 weeks improved tear production and dry-eye symptom scores (moderate evidence). The trials were small and short.

Is maqui berry powder as good as maqui extract?

Every positive maqui berry trial used a standardised delphinidin-enriched extract, not whole freeze-dried berry powder (limited evidence). Whole-berry powders at 500-1000 mg/day have no direct trial support and usually do not state their delphinidin content.

Can I take maqui berry with diabetes medication?

Because maqui berry lowers post-meal glucose, it can add to the effect of insulin or sulfonylureas, so monitor your blood glucose when you start. All maqui trials ran three months or less, so long-term safety is unknown.

Scientific references

Where to buy

Life Extension, Tear Support with MaquiBright®, Maqui Berry Extract, 60 mg, 30 Vegetarian Capsules

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