Sometimes it seems as though there’s a constant stream of new so-called “superfoods”, supposedly nutrient-dense nosh that comes with a bunch of health benefits. Thanks to a new study, the latest that’s been added to the pile is the sea buckthorn berry – but is this small, bright orange ball really capable of tackling diabetes and obesity as some headlines have claimed?
What are sea buckthorn berries?
Sea buckthorn berries come from – you guessed it – a plant called sea buckthorn, classified scientifically as Hippophae rhamnoides. It’s a large, spiny shrub that can be found in a number of locations owing to its hardiness to the elements, including mountainous and coastal regions.
After flowering in the spring, the late summer months see female sea buckthorn plants covered in small, bright orange berries that also happen to be edible.
But as for what they taste like, Catherine Cleary of the Irish Times gives a less-than-stellar review: “The good news is sea buckthorn berry is packed with Vitamin C. The bad news is it doesn’t taste great.”
Use in traditional medicine
Though it’s only recently been dubbed as a superfood in the mainstream, it’s thought that sea buckthorn berries have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years.
They are said to help with ailments ranging from a cough to digestive issues in Tibet and Mongolia; skin diseases and asthma in Russia and around the Indian region of the Himalayas; and even hypertension in some Central Asian countries.
Is the hype worth it?
Given the wide range of traditional uses for sea buckthorn berries, scientists have taken an interest in analyzing the composition of the fruit and figuring out which, if any, of the components might confer the alleged illustrious array of health benefits.
Whilst it’s true that, on the face of it, there are numerous studies exploring sea buckthorn berries and their relation to health, quantity doesn’t necessarily equal quality, nor does the presence of a particular compound associated with health benefits guarantee that the berries will provide the same effect.
For example, a 2019 study probing sea buckthorn oil, made from the seeds and pulp of the berries, highlighted that the oil is a rich source of omega-7 fatty acids. These are thought to have a role in maintaining and reducing inflammation in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, eyes, and genitalia. The study concluded, however, that there was limited evidence to support the oil’s apparent positive impact on health, and the authors note that “most of the results obtained in this review are from studies of isolated fatty acids instead of fatty acids extracted from sea buckthorn oil”.
A more recent study has garnered a lot of attention for its exploration of the berries’ nutritional profile and their potential for tackling diabetes and obesity, leading tabloid outlet the New York Post to call sea buckthorn berries “the strange fruit that can be your weight loss gamechanger”. That’s a pretty strong statement, so what does the actual study say?
Co-authored by researchers Renan Danielski and Fereidoon Shahidi of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the study first used a technique called (take a deep breath before saying this one) ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet–mass spectrometry–time of flight (UPLC-UV-MS-TOF) to determine the nutritional composition of the berries.
They found that the berries were rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins, which have been suggested as having health-beneficial antioxidant properties; antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells.
As such, the authors investigated the antioxidant activity of a sea buckthorn berry extract and found that it protected supercoiled DNA samples (free radicals can damage DNA) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol – the oxidized form of which has a role in the buildup of plaque in arteries – from oxidative damage. At a glance, this would suggest that berries have health-protective properties.
The study also concluded that the berries have “antidiabetic and anti-obesity potential”, after finding that the extract was capable of inhibiting two enzymes that have a role in the conditions.
Though the authors call these results “promising”, that’s all it is – as of yet unmet potential. It’s by no means a hard and fast conclusion that chowing down on a bunch of sea buckthorn berries is 100 percent guaranteed to cure humans of any ills.
This is primarily because a) it’s just one study, and scientists generally require more than that to give a theory any weight, and b) the study was carried out in vitro – that is, in plates containing 96 tiny test tubes instead of an actual living body.
As a result, though it could be inferred that the berries might have a role in treating diabetes and obesity, the true extent of that role can’t be known without further tests, both in vitro and in cells, animals, and, of course, humans.
This is acknowledged by Danielski, who in a statement, called the study “a first step”.
“Future research needs to focus on understanding the mechanisms behind those effects and further experimentation using animal models and humans,” the study author explained. “If these effects are confirmed in vivo, we can envision the use of sea buckthorn polyphenols for therapeutic and pharmacological purposes, aiding in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, and many other conditions.”
In other words, calling sea buckthorn berries a “weight loss gamechanger” is unfounded without more research, but if you still fancy downing a bunch of the berries, we won’t stop you (although please be careful if you’re going to forage them) – there’s just not enough evidence that it’s a “superfood”.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
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