Calafate is a small purple berry from the mountains of Chile and Argentina that’s packed with powerful plant compounds called anthocyanins and vitamin C. Scientists have discovered that this berry may help fight inflammation, improve how your body handles sugar, and protect against serious diseases like heart disease and cancer. While lab and animal studies show very promising results, researchers say we need more studies with actual people to know for sure how helpful calafate really is for human health. This review brings together everything scientists know about this berry so far.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: What makes calafate berries special, what nutrients they contain, and what health benefits they might provide based on scientific research
- Who participated: This was a review of existing research, not a study with human participants. Scientists looked at lab studies, animal studies, and chemical analyses of calafate berries from South America
- Key finding: Calafate berries contain high levels of natural compounds that fight inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. Lab and animal studies suggest these berries may help with blood sugar control, weight management, heart health, and brain protection
- What it means for you: Calafate berries show real promise as a healthy food, but we don’t yet have solid proof from human studies. If you’re interested in trying them, they appear safe, but don’t expect them to replace medical treatment for any condition. More research with people is needed before making strong health claims
The Research Details
This is a review article, which means scientists gathered and analyzed all the existing research about calafate berries. They looked at chemical studies that identified what’s in the berry, lab experiments that tested how the berry’s compounds work, and animal studies that showed potential health effects. The researchers organized all this information to create a complete picture of what we know about calafate so far.
The review focused on three main areas: what chemicals and nutrients are in calafate, how nutritious it is compared to other foods, and what health benefits the research suggests. By combining information from many different types of studies, the scientists could see patterns and identify where we have strong evidence and where we need more research.
This type of review is useful because it summarizes a lot of scattered information in one place. However, it’s important to understand that reviews don’t create new evidence—they organize existing evidence. The strength of the conclusions depends on the quality of the studies being reviewed.
Review articles are important because they help scientists and doctors understand what we know about a topic and what we still need to learn. In this case, calafate is a fruit that not many people outside South America know about, so bringing together all the research helps determine if it’s worth studying more carefully in humans. This type of review can guide future research priorities and help identify which potential health benefits are most promising.
This review has both strengths and limitations. The strength is that it comprehensively gathers information about calafate’s chemistry and potential health effects. However, the review itself points out major limitations: there are very few human studies, most evidence comes from lab dishes and animals, we don’t know how much of the berry’s beneficial compounds actually get absorbed by the human body, and we don’t have long-term safety data. The authors are honest about these gaps, which is a good sign of scientific integrity.
What the Results Show
Calafate berries contain impressive amounts of natural compounds called anthocyanins, which give the berry its purple color and are responsible for most of its health-promoting properties. The main anthocyanins found in calafate are delphinidin-3-glucoside and petunidin-3-glucoside—these are the same powerful compounds found in blueberries and other purple fruits. The berry is also rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants that help protect cells from damage.
Lab studies show that calafate can reduce inflammation in cells and help improve how cells respond to insulin, which is important for blood sugar control. These same lab studies suggest the berry might protect brain cells from damage and slow the growth of cancer cells. Animal studies support these findings, showing that when animals were given calafate supplements, their blood sugar control improved, their cholesterol markers got better, and their bodies showed less inflammation overall.
The research suggests calafate may be particularly helpful for people dealing with obesity-related inflammation and metabolic problems. The berry appears to work by reducing oxidative stress—think of this as cellular damage from harmful molecules—and by calming down the body’s inflammatory response. However, it’s crucial to remember that these benefits have been shown in controlled lab and animal settings, not yet in large groups of people.
Beyond the main findings, the research suggests calafate may have protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, though this evidence is still preliminary. The berry’s high vitamin C content supports immune function and skin health. Some studies indicate potential benefits for cardiovascular health beyond just cholesterol, including effects on blood vessel function. The research also notes that calafate grows well in harsh Patagonian conditions, making it a sustainable crop that could be valuable for food production in regions where other crops struggle.
Calafate is similar to other anthocyanin-rich berries like blueberries, blackberries, and acai berries in terms of its chemical composition and potential health benefits. However, calafate appears to have some unique anthocyanin profiles that might make it slightly different. The research on calafate is much less extensive than research on blueberries, which have been studied in many human trials. This review essentially says that calafate shows similar promise to other purple berries, but we need human studies to confirm whether it delivers the same benefits.
The biggest limitation is the lack of human clinical trials. All the promising results come from test tubes and animal studies, which don’t always translate to humans. We don’t know how much of calafate’s beneficial compounds actually survive digestion and get into the bloodstream—this is called bioavailability. There’s no standardized way to prepare calafate supplements, so different products might have very different amounts of active compounds. Long-term safety data is missing, so we don’t know if eating calafate regularly for years is safe. The review also notes that most studies have been small and some may have quality issues. Finally, we don’t know the optimal dose or which populations would benefit most.
The Bottom Line
Based on current evidence, calafate appears to be a safe and nutritious food that may offer health benefits similar to other purple berries. If you have access to calafate berries or supplements, they could be a reasonable addition to a healthy diet, but don’t expect them to treat or cure any disease. Confidence level: Low to Moderate for general health support, Very Low for specific disease treatment. Treat calafate as a potentially beneficial food, not a medicine. If you have diabetes, heart disease, or are taking medications, talk to your doctor before adding calafate supplements to your routine.
Anyone interested in antioxidant-rich foods and berries should know about calafate. People living in or visiting Patagonia have easy access to fresh calafate. People with metabolic concerns or inflammation might be particularly interested in following future research. However, people should NOT rely on calafate instead of proven medical treatments. Pregnant women and young children should consult doctors before trying calafate supplements, as safety data is limited for these groups.
If calafate does provide health benefits, you wouldn’t expect to notice dramatic changes quickly. Most antioxidant-rich foods work gradually to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress over weeks to months. Any benefits for blood sugar control or weight management would likely take several weeks to become noticeable. However, since human studies haven’t been done, these timelines are based on what we know about similar berries, not calafate specifically.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If using a nutrition app, track calafate or purple berry intake as a weekly serving goal (e.g., aim for 2-3 servings per week). Note the form: fresh berries, frozen, juice, or supplement. Track alongside inflammation markers if available (energy levels, joint comfort, digestive health) to monitor personal response
- Add calafate berries to your weekly grocery list if available, or substitute with similar purple berries (blueberries, blackberries) if calafate isn’t accessible. Start with small amounts (handful of berries or one supplement dose) to assess tolerance. Incorporate into smoothies, yogurt, or eat fresh to maximize nutrient intake
- Keep a simple food and wellness log for 8-12 weeks noting: days calafate was consumed, amount, form, and any changes in energy, digestion, inflammation symptoms, or overall wellbeing. This personal tracking helps you determine if calafate makes a difference for your individual health, even though it’s not a substitute for clinical evidence
This article summarizes research on calafate berries but is not medical advice. Calafate has not been approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. While lab and animal studies show promise, there are no large human clinical trials confirming health benefits. If you have diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or take medications, consult your doctor before adding calafate supplements to your routine. Pregnant women and children should seek medical guidance before use. Do not replace proven medical treatments with calafate or any supplement. Individual results may vary, and more research is needed to understand calafate’s effects in humans.