The Aronia melanocarpa is an indigenous North American shrub, now also grown in Eastern Europe, and gets its common name “Chokeberry” because the sharp mouth-drying effects it has when you eat them.
These berries are packed full of vitamins & minerals, as are most berries (vit C, B1, B2, B6, K, niacin, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc). Many of its health benefits are linked to its nutrients called ‘polyphenols’, naturally occurring organic compounds found in plants. The Aronia melanocarpa compounds have one of the highest antioxidant activities amongst fruits(1). The same study also found that Black Chokeberry capsules and powders have a considerably higher amount of total polyphenols in comparison with other products (chokeberry juices, teas, dried fruit)(1).
The Black Chokeberry has been researched and clinically studied, with health benefits including: anti-cancer & anti-diabetic effects, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, UTI infection reduction, digestion aid, and blood pressure regulation, to name a few(2).
More and more people are looking for natural plant-based alternatives to help prevent and treat illness and infection. Sometimes the standard approach of antibiotics leads to body resistance, re-infection and can become a costly exercise.
Black Chokeberries have an extremely high content of quinic acid, some researchers are saying that this makes the berry even more effective than cranberries when it comes to relieving UTIs.
One pilot study across 6 nursing homes over a 6-month period showed a 55% reduction in UTI frequency in the group given Aronia melanocarpa juice(3).
Another trial observed a significant reduction in UTI infections in patients administered with a variety of natural supplements, including Aronia melanocarpa(4).
35 patients with Type 2 diabetes were given Black Chokeberry supplementation in conjunction with their existing medication. After 3 months, tests showed a significant difference in the levels of LDL-cholesterol, glycated haemoglobin and serum creatinine.
Testing 3 months post supplementation, revealed the levels had gone back to what they had been prior to any Chokeberry supplementation(5).
A study in Japan amongst adult men given Chokeberry juice, suggests that it suppresses the elevation of postprandial (after-eating) blood glucose levels by actually inhibiting enzyme activity(6).
Over a 3-month period, patients with both insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetes had their glucose levels checked each day after having 200ml Chokeberry juice (unsweetened & sugar free). Results showed a lowering of fasting blood glucose levels, and even a beneficial effect on total cholesterol & lipid levels(7).
The antioxidant capacity and power of various Aronia berry extracts was tested. The anthocyanins (phenolic pigment that gives it it’s purple colour) in Black Chokeberries were shown to have significant health benefits when taken regularly, acting as antitumor agents due to their high antioxidant capabilities(8).
Black Chokeberries have one of the richest plant sources of anthocyanins (making up 25% of their total polyphenols)! This alone, makes this fruit an excellent source of natural antioxidants & an anti-inflammatory, contributing to the prevention of chronic diseases(9).
Research even showed Chokeberry extract’s anti-inflammatory effects and cardioprotective activity by inhibiting ROS in aortic endothelial cells(10).
Hard to believe this lesser-known dark purple berry packs such a punch!
That’s why we’ve included it in our exclusive Vajayay® formulation!
100% pure, powerful natural health!
(1) Tolić, M.-T., Landeka Jurčević, I., Panjkota Krbavčić, I., Marković, K., … Vahčić, N. (2015). Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Capacity and Quality of Chokeberry (Aronia Melanocarpa) Products. Food Technology and Biotechnology, 53. doi:10.17113/ftb.53.02.15.3833
(2) Kokotkiewicz, A., Jaremicz, Z., & Luczkiewicz, M. (2010). Aronia Plants: A Review of Traditional Use, Biological Activities, and Perspectives for Modern Medicine. Journal of Medicinal Food, 13(2), 255–269. doi:10.1089/jmf.2009.0062
(3) Handeland, M., Grude, N., Torp, T., & Slimestad, R. (2014). Black chokeberry juice (Aronia melanocarpa) reduces incidences of urinary tract infection among nursing home residents in the long term—a pilot study. Nutrition Research, 34(6), 518–525. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2014.05.005
(4) Psihogios, A., Madampage, C., Faught, B., (2022). Contemporary nutrition-based interventions to reduce risk of infection among elderly long-term care residents: A scoping review. 17(8): e0272513. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272513
(5)Milutinovic M, Velickovic Radovanovic R, Savikin K, Radenkovic S, Arvandi M, Pesic M, Kostic M, Miladinovic B, Brankovic S, Kitic D. Chokeberry juice supplementation in type 2 diabetic patients - impact on health status. J Appl Biomed. 2019 Dec;17(4):218-224. doi: 10.32725/jab.2019.020. Epub 2019 Nov 13. PMID: 34907720.
(6) Yamane T, et al., Aronia juice suppresses the elevation of postprandial blood glucose levels in adult healthy Japanese, Clinical Nutrition Experimental (2017), http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.yclnex.2017.01.002
(7) Simeonov SB, Botushanov NP, Karahanian EB, Pavlova MB, Husianitis HK, Troev DM. Effects of Aronia melanocarpa juice as part of the dietary regimen in patients with diabetes mellitus. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2002;44(3):20-3. PMID: 12580526.
(8) Rugină, D., Sconţa, Z., Leopold, L., Pintea, A., Bunea, A., & Socaciu, C. (2012). Antioxidant Activities of Chokeberry Extracts and the Cytotoxic Action of Their Anthocyanin Fraction on HeLa Human Cervical Tumor Cells. Journal of Medicinal Food, 15(8), 700–706. doi:10.1089/jmf.2011.0246
(8) Jurikova T, Mlcek J, Skrovankova S, Sumczynski D, Sochor J, Hlavacova I, Snopek L, Orsavova J. Fruits of Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Molecules. 2017 Jun 7;22(6):944. doi: 10.3390/molecules22060944
(9) Zapolska-Downar, D., Bryk, D., Małecki, M., Hajdukiewicz, K., & Sitkiewicz, D. (2011). Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in human aortic endothelial cells. European Journal of Nutrition, 51(5), 563–572. doi:10.1007/s00394-011-0240-1
