Douglas Jacoby, MD, FACC, FNLA, FASPC, Board Certified Cardiologist and Lipidologist
Kim Biedermann, PhD Chief Science Officer at Mend
Alexa Abdelaziz, PhD, Director of Research and Development at Mend
This article is intended for a professional audience. Consumers should always consult with their physician before considering any natural products for their health.
Table of Contents
Preface
Many in the medical and scientific communities view claims from natural products with a level of skepticism. This is founded, as there is often a dearth of data and/or the claims don’t stand on a particularly strong foundation of science. This seems to be shifting, however and more companies in the natural products world are investing in science and strong data. One compound that has caught our attention are anthocyanins, in particular ones extracted from bilberries and black currants, which now have more than 20 published randomized trials. While the outcomes data still need to be established, the compound does impact several biomarkers of heart health concern in a positive direction and with a compelling delta. In this paper, we review the published science on anthocyanins as a potential adjunctive therapy in heart health. To be clear, there are no natural products that replace the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including eating healthy and exercising. There are also no natural products that should be used instead of well proven risk reducing medications, such as statins. However, we know that there is strong consumer appetite for natural solutions, and many patients will take supplements whether or not providers recommend them; thus, as professionals we favor guiding patients with an interest in supplements to compounds that have the strongest science supporting them.
Context
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death among both men and women in people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The statistics continue to be alarming, according to the CDC, one person dies every 36 seconds, 659 thousand per year from heart disease – nearly 25% of all deaths in the country. In the US, we are spending roughly $400 billion per year in services, medicines and lost productivity due to cardiovascular disease.
What are anthocyanins?
Safety
Addressing safety at the outset, as that is the primary concern for any intervention, this compound is classified by the FDA as “GRAS”, or Generally Recognized As Safe. The FDA places natural compounds in this category when there is sufficient data on its safety profile to be allowed for widespread consumption. Furthermore, the compound has been utilized in natural supplements in Europe and Asia for more than two decades, with no known reported adverse events or contraindications.
Scientific support of heart health with anthocyanins
Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Lipid Profile and Endothelial Function
Oxidative Stress
Anthocyanin Sources
Natural sources with high anthocyanin content are berries, red grapes, cherries, red cabbage, eggplant, red wines, and the black variants of rice and soybean. Interestingly, there is a difference in the type and concentration of anthocyanins available depending on the berry (See Figure 1)

As shown in Figure 1, the relative anthocyanin content of common berries can range from low content like black grapes to high content like bilberries. Bilberries and blackcurrants are a balanced anthocyanin source, containing anthocyanins with different hydroxylation patterns and a variety of sugar side chains. Together, these two fruits exhibit synergistic effects of the main antioxidant anthocyanin components. This combination of fruits and their extraction processes helps balance out the fruit’s seasonal fluctuations, ensuring stable compositions and consistent dosages.
Our Intake

Conclusion
Overall, anthocyanins possess many potential health benefits and the strongest may be for cardiovascular health. Most people are not getting adequate levels of anthocyanins from their diet. Anthocyanins sourced from blackcurrants and bilberries provide a rich, synergistic profile which may improve cardiovascular health by improving endothelial dysfunction, lowering LDL cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and decreasing platelet activation and oxidative stress.
Data from over 20 years of clinical trials investigating specifically the combination of anthocyanins in blackcurrants and bilberries consistently show reduction in these key risk factors involved in the progression of CVD which shows great promise for cardiovascular benefit. For patients who plan to take supplements to reduce their cardiovascular risk, this would be a good choice because it has more evidence than most other available supplements and it consistently moves biomarkers in the right direction. Future research will help us continue to understand and elucidate these impacts.