Haskap Berry

Haskap berries (blue honeysuckle) are antioxidant-rich berries native to northern regions, called 'fruit of longevity' in Japan. Rich in anthocyanins (particularly cyanidin-3-glucoside), vitamin C, and polyphenols. NO GRADED OUTCOMES - limited human research. Anthocyanin content exceeds blueberries. May have cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, and cognitive benefits based on similar berry research, but haskap-specific studies are lacking. Safe as a food. Available fresh, frozen, or as supplements. Emerging berry gaining research interest due to high polyphenol content.

Quick Answer

What it is

Haskap berries (blue honeysuckle) are antioxidant-rich berries native to northern regions, called 'fruit of longevity' in Japan. Rich in anthocyanins (particularly cyanidin-3-glucoside), vitamin C, and polyphenols.

Key findings

  • Grade C: Episodic Memory
  • Grade C: Endurance Exercise Performance
  • Grade D: Inflammation

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

â„šī¸ Quick Facts: Haskap Berry

Quick Facts: Haskap Berry

  • Best Evidence:Grade C
  • Conditions Studied:5
  • Research Outcomes:8
  • Key Effect:Aerobic Exercise Performance
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B0
C2
D6
5 conditions ¡ 8 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
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C
Episodic Memory
A small pilot crossover RCT in 20 older adults (aged 62-81) found that haskap berry extract at 200 mg and 400 mg anthocyanin doses significantly improved word recall and word recognition scores at 1.5 hours post-consumption compared to placebo.
small↑Improves
C
Endurance Exercise Performance
A double-blind placebo-controlled RCT in 30 male recreational runners found haskap berry supplementation improved 5 km time trial performance by ~21 seconds (>2% improvement) and increased time to exhaustion by 20 seconds during a VO2peak test. Proposed mechanism involves improved vascular function and exercise-induced oxidative stress management.
small↑Improves
D
Inflammation
Multiple in vitro and animal studies demonstrate consistent anti-inflammatory effects. Haskap polyphenols dose-dependently reduced IL-6, TNF-alpha, PGE2, and COX-2 in macrophage models, inhibited NF-kB signaling, and decreased serum inflammatory markers (IL-2, IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-alpha) in high-fat diet mouse models. No human inflammation-specific data.
moderate↓Improves
D
Liver Health
Multiple animal studies show haskap berry extract attenuated experimental NASH, prevented NAFLD in high-fat diet mice via AMPK activation, reduced liver cholesterol and triglycerides, modulated gut microbiota composition, and alleviated oxidative stress-induced liver injury through Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 and MAPK pathways.
moderate↑Improves
D
Cholesterol
In rodent models, haskap berry polyphenols decreased plasma LDL and total cholesterol in obese Zucker rats, normalized serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic rats, and activated SIRT1 to promote cholesterol efflux and inhibit macrophage foam cell formation in vitro. No human lipid data available.
moderate↓Improves
D
Blood Pressure
In a small pilot crossover RCT in 20 older adults, a single 400 mg anthocyanin dose of haskap berry extract produced a significant acute reduction in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate at 1.5 hours post-consumption. No chronic supplementation data available.
small↓Improves
D
Antioxidant Status
In vitro and animal studies show haskap berry extracts reduce intracellular ROS, upregulate SOD, CAT, GPX1, and HMOX1 expression, and increase NOS activity in aortic tissue. Haskap contains up to 1.6x more antioxidants than blueberries by ORAC, with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside comprising 79-92% of total anthocyanins.
moderate↑Improves
D
Body Composition
In high-fat diet mouse models, haskap berry extract reduced body weight, adipocyte size, and abdominal/subcutaneous fat mass while increasing muscle mass by regulating SIRT1 and PGC1-alpha. A separate study confirmed decreased serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol through AMPK activation with prevention of fatty liver.
small↑Improves

Research Citations (17)

A Systematic Review of Cardio-Metabolic Properties of Lonicera caerulea L.
(2024)
PMID: 38929133
Improved Endurance Running Performance Following Haskap Berry (Lonicera caerulea L.) Ingestion
(2022)
PMID: 35215430
Antioxidant Effect of Lonicera caerulea L. in the Cardiovascular System of Obese Zucker Rats
(2021)
PMID: 34439452
Anti-Sarcopenic Obesity Effects of Lonicera caerulea Extract in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice
(2021)
PMID: 34679767
Haskap Berry Phenolic Subclasses Differentially Impact Cellular Stress Sensing in Primary and Immortalized Dermal Fibroblasts
(2021)
PMID: 34685623
Lonicera caerulea L. Polyphenols Alleviate Oxidative Stress-Induced Intestinal Environment Imbalance and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury in HFD-Fed Rats by Regulating the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 and MAPK Pathways
(2020)
PMID: 32250024
Anthocyanin-rich haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berry extracts reduce nitrosamine-induced DNA damage in human normal lung epithelial cells in vitro
(2020)
PMID: 32413456
Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside-Rich Haskap Berry Administration Suppresses Carcinogen-Induced Lung Tumorigenesis in A/JCr Mice
(2020)
PMID: 32842605
A pilot dose-response study of the acute effects of haskap berry extract (Lonicera caerulea L.) on cognition, mood, and blood pressure in older adults
(2019)
PMID: 30535796
Lonicera caerulea Berry Polyphenols Activate SIRT1, Enhancing Inhibition of Raw264.7 Macrophage Foam Cell Formation and Promoting Cholesterol Efflux
(2019)
PMID: 31146527

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