May protect against type 2 diabetes

While the precise mechanism is unknown, some evidence shows that rosehips may help prevent type 2 diabetes. In a study of mice fed a high-fat diet, supplementing with rosehip powder for 10-20 weeks reduced blood sugar levels, fasting insulin levels, and liver fat cell formation — all of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Another study found that rosehip extracts dramatically reduced fasting blood sugar levels in diabetic rats.

In a trial of people with obesity, however, daily rosehip powder supplementation showed no meaningful impact on fasting glucose levels or insulin sensitivity. These findings were applicable to both healthy and impaired blood sugar levels. As with weight reduction, existing research on rosehip extract is limited, and additional study on the association between rosehip tea and type 2 diabetes risk is required.