Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial effects of anthocyanins on reducing LDL cholesterol, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The largest study, a meta-analysis of 32 RCTs (1491 participants), found a moderate beneficial effect (SMD: -0.35; 95% CI: -0.66, -0.05). The median study duration was 168 days, suggesting effects may take several months to manifest. One study used a dose of 320 mg/day in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or cardiometabolic disorders.
Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). The meta-analysis showed high heterogeneity (I² = 85.2%), indicating substantial variability across included trials.
LDL (SMD: -0.35; 95% CI: -0.66, -0.05; I² = 85.2%)
ANCOVA analyses reveal 24-week differences favoring the anthocyanin treatment in LDL cholesterol levels (ƞp2=0.078; p=0.015)
The subgroup analysis test showed that there was a significant effect of ACN on triglyceride concentrations, total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations in all subgroups of participants (with vs. without dyslipidemia at baseline) and intervention type (supplement/extract vs. food).