Maqui berry

What is maqui berry?

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) is a small, deep purple berry native to central and southern Chile and Argentina, where it has been eaten fresh and used in traditional drinks for centuries. Its color comes from a high concentration of anthocyanins, especially a group called delphinidins. Those pigments are the reason maqui is marketed as a “superfruit” and appears in antioxidant powders, juices and, increasingly, weight-management capsules.

What the research says

Human research on maqui is still small. A 2026 systematic review of 12 human trials found that single doses consistently reduced blood sugar after a meal, while longer-term use produced only modest and inconsistent changes in HbA1c, blood lipids and other cardiometabolic markers. The most consistent results were for dry eye symptoms. The reviewers rated the certainty of evidence as moderate to very low because the trials were small, short and used different formulations, and they called for larger, longer studies.

One frequently cited randomized, placebo-controlled trial of a standardized maqui extract (Delphinol) in 42 adults found lower levels of oxidized LDL and urinary F2-isoprostanes, two markers of oxidative stress, after four weeks. However, the same study found no differences in body measurements, blood pressure or blood lipids, and the changes in oxidative markers had disappeared 40 days after people stopped taking it.

Claims that maqui activates fat burning or boosts mitochondria come mainly from cell and animal research. No published human trial shows that maqui berry on its own causes weight loss.

How it’s used in supplements

Maqui is sold as freeze-dried powder, juice concentrate and standardized extracts. Research products are usually standardized to a stated anthocyanin content, which matters because whole-fruit powders vary widely in potency. In blended products such as Mitolyn, where the amount is not disclosed, there is no way to compare the dose with what was used in trials.

As a food, maqui appears to be well tolerated, and no serious adverse effects were highlighted in the human trials reviewed. Because some acute studies showed lower after-meal blood sugar, people taking diabetes medication should mention it to their doctor. Safety data for pregnancy and breastfeeding are not available.

Bottom line: maqui is an interesting anthocyanin-rich fruit with early human data on oxidative stress markers, after-meal blood sugar and dry eye symptoms. The trials are small and short, used standardized extracts at stated doses, and did not show changes in body weight or body measurements. That makes maqui a reasonable antioxidant ingredient but not a proven weight-loss one. If you are drawn to it, eating a variety of colorful berries as part of your regular diet is a low-risk way to get similar compounds, and a standardized extract with a stated anthocyanin content is the only way to know what dose you are actually taking.