Goji berries

What human studies say about goji berries

• General well-being · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
  Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model. Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice. PubMed 22897500
• Oxidative stress markers · Randomized controlled trial, 53 participants · 2017
  Compared with placebo, the extract group showed a slight change in erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced DNA damage in lymphocytes, and more deregulated oxidative- and inflammation-related mRNAs. Limitation: Small sample, short duration, and biomarker endpoints only. Effects on antioxidant enzymes were described as slight, and clinical outcomes were not assessed. PubMed 28027641
• Blood glucose and lipids · Randomized controlled trial, 67 participants · 2015
  Compared with the control group, serum glucose during the oral meal tolerance test was lower and the insulinogenic index and HDL levels were higher after 3 months of polysaccharide intake. Limitation: The authors state the study had a small sample size and short follow-up. It tested an isolated polysaccharide, not whole goji berries. PubMed 25381995
• Eye health markers · Randomized controlled trial · 2011
  Compared with placebo, the goji group had increased plasma zeaxanthin (26%) and antioxidant capacity (57%) and remained stable in macular pigmentation and soft drusen, whereas the placebo group showed hypopigmentation and drusen accumulation. Limitation: The mechanism is unclear, since changes in plasma zeaxanthin were not related to changes in macular characteristics. A proprietary milk-based formulation was used, not whole berries. PubMed 21169874

Most studies used extracts or doses that differ from home cooking. Full details in the Nourilo Research Library.

Safety: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium