Tart cherry juice is often sold as a natural answer to joint pain. It is not a cure, and it is not a replacement for your prescribed treatment. But there is some interesting research on it. Here is what the evidence really shows.
Why tart cherries?
Tart (sour) cherries, mainly the Montmorency variety, are rich in anthocyanins. These plant compounds give the cherries their deep red colour and act as antioxidants. In laboratory studies, they can block some of the same inflammation pathways (COX enzymes) that anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen target. But results in a lab dish do not always carry over to people, so the human trials are what count.
Osteoarthritis: what the trials found
| Study | What happened | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Schumacher et al. (2013) 58 people, knee OA | Two 8oz (about 240ml) bottles of tart cherry juice a day for 6 weeks, compared with a dummy (placebo) drink. Pain scores improved, but the difference from the placebo was not statistically significant. A blood marker of inflammation (hsCRP) fell. | It may help a little, but we cannot be sure it works better than a placebo. |
| Du et al. (2019) 66 people, knee OA | About 470ml of juice a day for 4 months. Pain, quality of life and knee bending improved at 2 months, but the benefits did not last to the end. A marker of cartilage breakdown fell. | A short conference summary, funded by the cherry industry. Treat with caution. |
Sources: Schumacher et al. (2013); Du et al. (2019).
Key insight: the best-proven treatments are still free
For osteoarthritis, the NHS says exercise is one of the most important treatments, and losing weight if you need to can ease the strain on your joints (NHS, n.d.a). See our post Move to Improve.
Gout: less clear than you might think
Gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid, which forms crystals in the joints. Arthritis UK says research has shown that cherries may reduce the risk of a gout attack, particularly when taken alongside allopurinol (Arthritis UK, n.d.).
But the evidence on uric acid is mixed. A 2026 review of 4 trials found tart cherry lowered uric acid only slightly, and called the evidence limited (Zhang et al., 2026). A trial in people with gout found tart cherry concentrate had no effect on uric acid at any dose (Stamp et al., 2020). Medicines such as allopurinol remain the most effective long-term treatment.
If you want to try it
| Form | Things to know |
|---|---|
| Juice | Trials used 240ml to 470ml a day. That is a lot of natural sugar: the NHS advises no more than 150ml of fruit juice a day, with a meal (NHS, n.d.b). |
| Concentrate | A small amount diluted with water. Stamp et al. (2020) used 7.5ml to 30ml twice a day. |
| Capsules | No sugar, but supplement quality varies and they have been less studied. |
- Talk to your GP, pharmacist or rheumatology team first, especially if you have diabetes or take regular medicines.
- Never stop or cut down a prescribed medicine, such as allopurinol, to try cherry juice instead.
- Think of it as one part of a healthy, balanced diet, not a treatment on its own.
For free, trusted information, call the Arthritis UK helpline on 0800 5200 520 or read our guide to joint pain supplements.
References
Arthritis UK (n.d.) Gout. Available at: https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/understanding-arthritis/conditions/gout/
Du, C., Chapman, S.C., Kwon, Y.H., Vijayagopal, P. and Juma, S. (2019) 'Impact of tart cherry juice on joint flexibility and pain in individuals with self-reported knee osteoarthritis (P01-030-19)', Current Developments in Nutrition, 3(Supplement 1). Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6574019/
NHS (n.d.a) Osteoarthritis: treatment. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/treatment/
NHS (n.d.b) 5 A Day: what counts? Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/5-a-day/5-a-day-what-counts/
Schumacher, H.R., Pullman-Mooar, S., Gupta, S.R., Dinnella, J.E., Kim, R. and McHugh, M.P. (2013) 'Randomized double-blind crossover study of the efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 21(8), pp. 1035–1041. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2013.05.009
Stamp, L.K., Chapman, P., Frampton, C., Duffull, S.B., Drake, J., Zhang, Y. and Neogi, T. (2020) 'Lack of effect of tart cherry concentrate dose on serum urate in people with gout', Rheumatology, 59(9), pp. 2374–2380. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez606
Zhang, Z. et al. (2026) 'Tart cherry intake and serum uric acid: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and evidence from network pharmacology', Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 35(3), pp. 451–462. Available at: https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.202606_35(3).0008
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Important medical disclaimer
The content provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP, psychiatrist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Never start, stop or change a prescribed medicine without speaking to your prescriber first.
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