Black Currant: Research · Nutrient Desk

A promising finding in glaucoma

In a two-year trial, 38 people with open-angle glaucoma received 50 mg of blackcurrant anthocyanins daily or placebo while continuing glaucoma drops. Visual-field deterioration was smaller with anthocyanins, and eye blood flow improved; eye pressure did not change significantly. This small adjunct-treatment trial does not establish better eyesight in healthy people. 1

Eye HealthToo little evidence

The glaucoma result is encouraging but comes from a small trial alongside usual treatment. 1

Seed oil and joint pain

A 24-week rheumatoid arthritis trial found that overall clinical responses to seed oil were no better than placebo. Many participants stopped because the capsule burden was difficult. Leaf medicines have a separate European traditional-use indication for minor joint pain, based on long-standing use rather than adequate patient trials. 2 3

Joint MobilityMixed

Seed-oil trials found some improvements in tenderness or stiffness, but no consistent improvement in pain or function. 4

What about the gut-brain connection?

A four-week crossover trial enrolled 40 healthy women to test a blackcurrant beverage. It found no change in gut microbiome composition or function and no benefit on the main stress-reactivity outcome. Some secondary mood and working-memory results improved. These are exploratory findings, not evidence that the drink treats digestive symptoms. 5

Gut healthToo little evidence

The tested beverage did not change measured gut microbiome outcomes. 5

Effects by health goal

Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.