Goji berry, also known as wolfberry, is the fruit of a large shrub native to the Himalayan region. Bright red goji berries, about 1/2-inch in length, emerge singly along the stems of the goji plant. The delicate berries are consumed fresh where they are grown and are usually dried to preserve them for shipping to other places. Goji berry juice offers a variety of purported health benefits, some of which have been the subject of scientific studies. Consult your doctor before using goji berry juice to treat a medical condition.
Sun Damage
Goji berry juice might protect against sun damage, according to a study published in the April 2010 issue of the journal "Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences." In the study on laboratory animals, concentrations of goji berry juice ranging from 1 percent to 10 percent provided protection to the skin from immune suppression caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Significant antioxidant protection against lipid oxidation was provided by the 5 percent solution. The researchers noted that when factors such as vitamin C content and other components of the juice were accounted for, the results appeared to stem from the goji juice alone. Goji juice also stimulated two specific antioxidants known to protect the skin against sun damage.
Long-Term Consumption
A study published in the January 2009 issue of "Nutrition Research" indicated that long-term consumption of goji juice may offer antioxidant protection and reduce the occurrence of health conditions associated with oxidative damage. In the study, participants aged 55 to 72 drank goji berry juice daily for 30 days. They showed an average 8.4 percent increase in levels of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase and a 9.9 percent increase in levels of the antioxidant glutathione. Levels of malondialdehyde -- a marker of lipid oxidation -- decreased by 8.7 percent compared to a control group that did not receive goji berry juice.
Immune Function
Goji berry juice might offer immune benefits, according to a study published in the October 2009 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food." In the study, 60 participants between the ages of 55 and 72 drank 120 mL per day of goji juice, an amount equal to 150 g of fresh goji fruit, for 30 days. Results showed significant increase in lymphocytes -- a type of white blood cell. Other components of the immune system, including immunoglobulins and immune signalling molecules called interleukins, showed measurable increases as well. Participants reported decreased fatigue, improved short-term memory and better sleep.
Mental Focus
Goji berry juice increased well-being and improved neurological, psychological and digestive function, according to a study published in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," May 2008. Participants consumed goji berry juice for 14 days and reported increased energy, improved athletic performance, better gastrointestinal regularity, improved sleep and sharper mental focus, compared to a control group that did not receive goji juice and who reported improvements only in heartburn and happiness levels. General sense of health and calmness also were reportedly improved in the goji berry juice group over the two weeks of the study. The researchers urged further studies on the health effects of goji berry juice to confirm and expand upon their results.
References
- "Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences"; Mice Drinking Goji Berry Juice (Lycium Barbarum) Are Protected from UV Radiation-Induced Skin Damage Via Antioxidant Pathways; V.E. Reeve et al.; April 2010
- "Nutrition Research"; Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Juice Improves In Vivo Antioxidant Biomarkers in Serum of Healthy Adults; H. Amagase et al.; January 2009
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; Immunomodulatory Effects of a Standardized Lycium Barbarum Fruit Juice in Chinese Older Healthy Human Subjects; H. Amagase et al.; October 2009
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi; H. Amagase et al.; May 2008
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