Delphinidin: The Seldom-Mentioned Plant Pigment That Builds Bone Mass

The colors of the fruits and vegetables on your plate do more than just make them visually appealing – they also impact your health. In this article, you'll learn about the pigment that gives purple plants and blue flowers their hue: delphinidin.

We'll analyze two studies that link delphinidin to improved bone density and explore how these findings could provide useful strategies for improving your bone health.

The Purple Powerhouse Delphinidin

Delphinidin is a polyphenol compound that belongs to a category of colored water-soluble pigments called anthocyanidins.

Anthocyanidins provide fruits and vegetables with red, purple, and blue coloration. Fruits and vegetables with these colors are generally rich in anthocyanidins, including berries, grapes, currants, purple-leafed vegetables, colored grains and tubers, certain tropical fruits, and more.

In cell studies, animal models, and human trials, researchers have found that anthocyanidins possess antioxidative and antimicrobial qualities that support eye and neurological health and help protect against chronic diseases.¹

Delphinidin is a plant pigment that ranges from magenta to purple, and is the dominant anthocyanidin in blueberries, concord grapes, eggplants, blackcurrants, and red wine.

Laboratory and animal studies suggest that delphinidin may have anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, gut-supporting, and anti-viral properties. And increasingly, studies have shown the potential of delphinidin to improve bone health.²

Synopsis

Anthocyanidins are red, purple, and blue plant pigments with antioxidative and antimicrobial qualities. Delphinidin is an anthocyanidin with a magenta to purple color. Studies have linked it to anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, pro-gut health, and anti-viral effects.

Delphinidin Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis

A study published in the journal PLoS One examined the impact of delphinidin on mice with induced osteoporosis or ovariectomies to model post-menopausal conditions.

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They found that oral administration of delphinidin significantly prevented bone loss in both groups of mice. The researcher's in vitro analysis (conducted outside the body under laboratory conditions) of the effect of delphinidin revealed that delphinidin inhibited osteoclast differentiation.³ Osteoclasts are the cells responsible for resorbing old bone. Overproduction of osteoclasts contributes to bone loss.

The authors concluded that delphinidin is an osteoporosis-fighting compound.

“These results strongly suggest that delphinidin is the most potent inhibitor of osteoclast differentiation and will be an effective agent for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis.”³

We must bear in mind that this study was conducted with mice and not humans. While the results clearly indicate the effects of delphinidin, administration of a comparable dose to humans may not have an identical effect. Clinical trials with human participants are necessary to draw definite conclusions.

Synopsis

A study with osteoporosis-induced and ovariectomized mice found that oral administration of delphinidin prevented bone loss. They observed in the laboratory that delphinidin inhibited the production of osteoclasts, bone-resorbing cells.

Delphinidin Improves Bone Metabolism

Many of the same researchers who conducted the previous study expanded on their previous findings in a follow-up study examining the effects of delphinidin. In this study, they used a delphinidin-enriched maqui berry extract, which they administered to mice.

The study found that the delphinidin-enriched extract had similar effects to the previous study, inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. They observed this effect along two different paths of osteoclast formation, expanding their understanding of delphinidin's mechanism of action.⁴

The delphinidin-enriched extract also improved bone metabolism by stimulating the formation of osteoblasts, the bone-building cells. This means delphinidin increased bone mass by both reducing bone resorbing cells and promoting the formation of bone-building cells.⁴

The researchers used microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and bone histomorphometry analyses of mouse femurs to observe the effect of daily ingestion of delphinidin. They found a significant increase in the ratio of bone volume to tissue volume, along with other indicators of increased bone density.

As with their previous study, these researchers were studying the effectiveness of delphinidin on mice. While their findings were significant, they have not been recreated in a human trial.

These studies were using a supplemental form of delphinidin. Fortunately, you can obtain delphinidin from your diet by including these colorful foods:

Berries: blueberries*, blackberries*, blackcurrants, elderberries, bilberries, cranberries*, raspberries*, and mulberries.
Dark grapes*, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Concord grapes, and red wine made from dark grape varietals
Pomegranates, both the fruit and its juice
Eggplant, especially the purple variety
Red cabbage* (also contains anthocyanins)
Purple sweet potatoes*
Red onions (also contains anthocyanins)
Black beans*
Black rice

*Indicates Foundation Food

Seek out these purple, red, and blue foods to incorporate this powerful compound into your diet. Because delphinidin is found in plant foods, those foods will most likely be alkalizing and will offer other vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that your body and bones need to stay healthy and strong.

Synopsis

Another study with mice reconfirmed that delphinidin inhibits the formation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and found that the pigment also stimulates the formation of bone-forming osteoblasts. Include purplish plant foods in your diet to ensure you're getting this powerful bone-building pigment.

What This Means To You

Delphinidin gives purple, blue, and reddish plant foods their vibrant color. Include them in your diet to get the health benefits of this powerful antioxidant– including strengthening your bones by regulating the bone remodeling process.

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