Strawberry (fruit and extract)
Eating strawberries, mostly as freeze-dried powder equal to about two or three servings a day, improved some blood pressure, insulin and cholesterol markers in small trials, but the trials were short, mixed on cholesterol, and in some cases industry-funded, so this is limited evidence.
We found no human trial of strawberry extract on skin or hair, only a lab study on skin cells, and the strawberry and baking soda tooth-whitening mix lowered enamel hardness in a lab test. Strawberry can cause allergy, usually mild.
At a glance
Last reviewed 10 October 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure, insulin and cholesterol markers (eaten)Compare remedies for heart health → | Limited | In 34 adults with raised LDL cholesterol, 50 g a day of freeze-dried strawberry powder for 4 weeks did not change LDL or total cholesterol, but a single 50 g dose raised artery dilation (flow-mediated dilation) by 1.5% at 1 hour and lowered systolic blood pressure by 3.1 mmHg at 2 hours. In 25 adults with prediabetes, 32 g a day for 12 weeks improved insulin, insulin resistance, fasting glucose and HbA1c against no strawberries in a single-blinded crossover trial funded by the California Strawberry Commission. In 35 older adults, 26 g a day for 8 weeks lowered systolic blood pressure (p = 0.044) compared with a control powder. A 2025 review of 60 papers concluded daily strawberries improved lipid and inflammation outcomes in people at higher cardiovascular risk. Trials are small and short, results differ between them, and they used concentrated powder.1,2,3,4 |
| Skin and hair products (extract)Compare remedies for skin →Compare remedies for hair & nails → | Traditional | A 2015 laboratory study found strawberry extracts (25 micrograms to 1 mg per mL) raised the survival of human skin fibroblasts exposed to UVA, more so with added coenzyme Q10, in formulas that also contained an SPF 10 filter. That is cells in a dish, not people, and it does not show strawberry extract protects skin from sun. We found no human trial of strawberry extract or strawberry-based products on skin, and nothing on hair growth or condition, so these uses rate 1.5 |
| Teeth whitening (strawberry and baking soda) | Traditional | A 2023 laboratory study on 90 extracted teeth found strawberries, baking soda, lemon, charcoal and two professional systems all changed enamel colour measurably over 4 weeks, with strawberries showing the smallest change (38.2 against 44.0 for lemon); the authors say further studies are needed on surface damage. A 2015 laboratory study of 120 enamel samples found a do-it-yourself strawberry and baking soda mix significantly reduced enamel hardness, though electron microscopy showed little change in surface appearance; the authors advise caution with it. We found no human trial. Colour change in extracted teeth does not show visible whitening in a mouth.6,7 |
| Strawberry allergy (harm signal) | Limited | Not a use but a risk. In a five-year clinic review of 19 children with food challenge-confirmed fruit or vegetable allergy, strawberry and kiwi were each 17.4% of the triggers, reactions were generally mild, and skin-prick and blood tests alone were poor at predicting who really reacted. In a Mexican survey of 1,091 adults, 64 had oral allergy syndrome and strawberry was the trigger in 7.8% of them. In 814 children tested for strawberry or tomato IgE, only 2.2% (strawberry) had a clinically relevant reaction and severe allergy was rare.9,10,8 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Strawberry allergy or oral allergy syndrome — a trigger in children and adults
- Whitening teeth with strawberry and baking soda — enamel hardness fell in a lab test
Known interactions
Questions people ask
What are the benefits of strawberry extract?
We found no human trial of strawberry extract. The benefits seen in trials are from eating strawberries, mostly as freeze-dried powder: small improvements in blood pressure, insulin and some inflammation markers, with cholesterol results mixed. The skin evidence for extract is a cell study.
Is strawberry extract good for skin or hair?
We could not find evidence it is. One 2015 cell study found strawberry extracts protected skin fibroblasts from UVA in a dish, in formulas that also contained an SPF 10 filter and coenzyme Q10. We found no human trial for skin and no study of any kind for hair growth or condition.
Do strawberries and baking soda whiten teeth?
Probably not safely. Lab tests on extracted teeth found measurable colour change with strawberries, but a 2015 study found a strawberry and baking soda mix significantly reduced enamel hardness, and the authors advised caution. We found no test in people, so there is no evidence it whitens teeth in a mouth without risk to enamel.
Can you be allergic to strawberries?
Yes. Strawberry was among the most common triggers in a children's clinic review of food challenge-confirmed fruit and vegetable allergy, and a trigger of oral allergy syndrome in adults in a Mexican survey.
Reactions are generally mild, but skin-prick and blood tests alone are unreliable, and diagnosis depends on your reaction history and sometimes a supervised food challenge.
Sources (10)
- Randomised controlled trial Huang L, Xiao D, Zhang X, et al. Strawberry Consumption, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, and Vascular Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Adults with Moderate Hypercholesterolemia. J Nutr. 2021.
- Randomised controlled trial Basu A, Hooyman A, Groven S, et al. Strawberries Improve Insulin Resistance and Related Cardiometabolic Markers in Adults with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial. J Nutr. 2025.
- Randomised controlled trial Delaney K, Tsang M, Kern M, et al. Strawberries modestly improve cognition and cardiovascular health in older adults. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2025.
- Review Charoenwoodhipong P, Zuelch ML, Keen CL, Hackman RM, Holt RR. Strawberry (Fragaria x Ananassa) intake on human health and disease outcomes: a comprehensive literature review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2025.
- Laboratory study Gasparrini M, Forbes-Hernandez TY, Afrin S, et al. A Pilot Study of the Photoprotective Effects of Strawberry-Based Cosmetic Formulations on Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci. 2015.
- Laboratory study Abidia RF, El-Hejazi AA, Azam A, et al. In vitro comparison of natural tooth-whitening remedies and professional tooth-whitening systems. Saudi Dent J. 2023.
- Laboratory study Kwon SR, Kurti SR, Oyoyo U, Li Y. Effect of various tooth whitening modalities on microhardness, surface roughness and surface morphology of the enamel. Odontology. 2015.
- Retrospective study Chong AC, Izadi N, Chwa WJ, Tam JS. Fruitful or unfruitful: strawberry and tomato specific immunoglobulin E testing at a tertiary pediatric center. Front Allergy. 2023.
- Retrospective study Topcak AB, Karaca Sahin M, Caliskan N, et al. Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Fruit and Vegetable Allergy in Childhood: A Five-Year Retrospective Evaluation. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2026.
- Survey Bedolla-Barajas M, Del Campo MCI, Morales-Romero J, et al. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Oral Allergy Syndrome among Mexican Adults: A Survey-Based Study. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.