Aronia Fruit Extract is Promising Adjunct in Managing Metabolic Syndrome in Older Adults

Metabolic syndrome, characterized by central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance, is an extensive problem amongst older adults, which considerably raises the risk of heart diseases. Although traditional pharmacotherapies are still mainly used, the role of additional plant-based treatments is gaining more attention—specifically, plant-based antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. One such example is polyphenol-rich natural products such as Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry), which contains anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, as a possible source of natural therapy.

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A recent randomized controlled trial investigated the impact of daily aronia fruit extract on older adults with metabolic syndrome. In this study, participants consumed 10 g of extract daily for 8 weeks, and results demonstrated significant improvements compared with controls. Diastolic blood pressure decreased by approximately 10 mmHg, triglycerides fell by 9 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased by 6.3 mg/dL, and inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-6 were reduced. The indicators of oxidative stress, such as ox-LDL and small dense LDL, improved significantly. These findings indicate that the use of aronia supplements can substantially lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases in such a vulnerable group.¹

Broader Evidence and Supporting Data

Larger analyses across diverse populations show mixed results. Chokeberry supplementation was found to be inconsistent in improving anthropometric measures, glycemia, lipid levels, or blood pressure. The results of a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with more than 600 participants led to this conclusion. The results of the subgroup analysis indicated that there might be some benefit, such as a slight decrease in cholesterol and systolic blood pressure in the specific patient groups and at a higher anthocyanin dose. Still, the authors emphasized that overall evidence quality was very low, with small study sizes and methodological limitations limiting firm conclusions.² These findings highlight the need for more rigorous, large-scale studies before aronia can be widely recommended as a therapeutic intervention.

Experimental controlled clinical trials are the main supports of aronia's potential. A study on patients with metabolic syndrome, who were given a standardized aronia extract supplementation for 4 weeks, brought about a significant decrease in blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and glycemia, especially in the group of individuals with type 2 diabetes. The aforementioned changes in laboratory parameters were made in a setting where no major adverse effects were observed, which could be interpreted as a sign of both effectiveness and safety in a group of patients with multiple comorbidities.³ Such results give a rationale for the contribution of chokeberry in the control of metabolism and open the way for its use as a cosmeceutical in pharmacy practice.

Aronia’s therapeutic promise is largely attributed to its high polyphenol content. Anthocyanins may improve cholesterol metabolism by increasing efflux and lowering LDL-C while also reducing the activity of pro-inflammatory pathways. Proanthocyanidins may contribute through effects on the gut, for instance, the modulation of microbiota, enzyme activity, and barrier integrity. These 3 combined mechanisms are those that have supported the reduced levels of both cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers in clinical studies.^1-3

Conclusion

Daily supplementation with aronia fruit extract shows promise, particularly for older patients with metabolic syndrome, by improving lipid levels, reducing blood pressure, and attenuating inflammation. On the other hand, evidence outside of smaller controlled trials is still quite unclear, and meta-analyses warn against making early conclusions. There is a need for large, well-planned randomized controlled trials to be able to ascertain the correct dosing, the length of treatment, and the patients who benefit the most. For pharmacists, aronia could be considered as an interesting and safe auxiliary option, but when educating patients, they should be informed that the current evidence is still at a preliminary stage, and it cannot be used as a substitute for pharmacotherapy as directed by guidelines.

REFERENCES

1. Baltacı P, Eyupoglu OE, Kankaya S, Yavuzer H. Aronia (Chokeberry) Fruit Extract is a Potential Candidate for Managing Metabolic Syndrome in Elderly Patients. J Am Nutr Assoc. Published online September 4, 2025. doi:10.1080/27697061.2025.2551181

2. Oleg Frumuzachi, Andrei Mocan, Rohn S, Gavrilaș L. Impact of a Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott) Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Outcomes: A Critical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2025;17(9):1488-1488. doi:10.3390/nu17091488

3. Tasic N, Jakovljevic VLJ, Mitrovic M, et al. Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa extract reduces blood pressure, glycemia and lipid profile in patients with metabolic syndrome: a prospective controlled trial. Mol Cell Biochem. 2021;476(7):2663-2673. doi:10.1007/s11010-021-04106-4