Jujube
Jujube is the fruit of Ziziphus jujuba, a small tree from Asia, also known as the Chinese date. It is eaten as food and used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Also listed as Ziziphus Jujuba, Chinese Date, Da Zao, Fructus Jujubae
The sleep finding belongs to the seed
A trial randomized 106 postmenopausal women to seed capsules or placebo for 21 days. Self-reported sleep quality improved more with the seed preparation. The short study supports further testing in that population; it does not show that eating jujube fruit has the same effect. 1
A short seed-capsule trial found better questionnaire scores; this is not direct evidence for fruit. 1
Constipation: an encouraging but fragile result
A 12-week controlled study in 37 people with chronic constipation and slow bowel transit found improved symptoms with liquid jujube extract. However, 16 of 19 placebo participants dropped out because of severe constipation. That large imbalance makes the comparison less dependable and leaves confirmation important. 2
One small extract study was positive, but substantial unequal dropout limits confidence. 2
What has actually been tested with the fruit?
A one-month trial enrolled 86 adolescents with obesity and abnormal blood lipids; 70 completed it. Fruit powder, 5 g three times daily, improved total and LDL cholesterol compared with placebo, while body mass index and other lipids did not change significantly. Both groups received lifestyle guidance. This is a preliminary result in a specific group, not a general cholesterol treatment. 3
One short adolescent trial found favorable cholesterol results. 3
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.
Longevity1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Sleep3 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Stress & Mood2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.