Berlin, June 18, 2025 – Scientists from the Institute for Circulatory Research and Sports Medicine at the German Sport University Cologne have found indications in a pilot study that daily consumption of aronia juice combined with strength and endurance training can improve the health of people with pre-diabetes mellitus12. Pre-diabetes mellitus is a precursor to type 2 diabetes and, according to the Robert Koch Institute, affects approximately one in five people between the ages of 18 and 79 in Germany34.
The metabolic disorder often develops over years without noticeable symptoms, with blood sugar levels already elevated but not yet reaching the threshold for a diabetes diagnosis34. Chronically elevated levels increase the risk of heart attack, kidney and eye diseases, as well as various types of cancer34.
In the randomized, controlled, and blinded study, published in the journal “Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases,” participants received either aronia juice or a placebo drink, both in the morning and evening, with a time gap to training12. After just two weeks, slight positive effects on vascular resistance and – in combination with physical training – on muscle mass were observed in those who drank aronia juice12. The researchers attribute the effect to the polyphenols contained in aronia, which, as secondary plant compounds, can have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects15. Exercise and physical activity also have similar long-term effects, which is why the combination of both measures could be particularly beneficial12.
Cell experiments by the working group also suggest an anabolic, i.e., muscle-building, effect of aronia extract on muscle cells12. The study leadership plans to investigate in a follow-up study whether these effects can be confirmed with longer-term strength training and whether further health benefits emerge for patients12.
The project was supported financially by the German Diabetes Foundation and by the Eckes-Granini Group through the provision of study beverages12.
- https://fis.dshs-koeln.de/de/projects/superfood-studie-aroniasaft-und-sport-bei-menschen-mit-pr%C3%A4diabete
- https://fis.dshs-koeln.de/de/projects/einfluss-von-training-mit-chronischer-supplementierung-eines-fruc
- https://www.aok.de/pk/magazin/koerper-psyche/stoffwechsel/praediabetes-symptome-erkennen-und-diabetes-typ-2-vorbeugen/
- https://edoc.rki.de/bitstream/handle/176904/12482/DiabSurv_Pr%C3%A4diabetes_E.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- https://www.fitforfun.de/abnehmen/gesund-essen/aronia-die-apfelbeere-klein-aber-oho-154989.html
- https://eatsmarter.de/ernaehrung/news/macht-aroniasaft-gesuender-und-schlanker
- https://fis.dshs-koeln.de/de/organisations/institut-f%C3%BCr-kreislaufforschung-und-sportmedizin/projects/
- https://www.dshs-koeln.de/aktuelles/meldungen-pressemitteilungen/detail/meldung/aroniasaft-und-sport-bei-prae-diabetes-mellitus/
- https://kurier.at/wissen/gesundheit/diabetes-prae-diabetes-aronia-sport-senken-verhindern-tipps/403051065
- https://fis.dshs-koeln.de/files/24968079/Dissertation_Sarah_Valder_598936_final_Bibliotheksversion_11.06.2025.pdf
