Acai Berry Research

Latin Name: Euterpe oleracea Mart

Family: Arecaceae

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study. Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action. This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• Research indicates that berry anthocyanins promote good health and help prevent degenerative diseases, improve cognitive brain functions, and more. From: Zafra‐Stone, S., Yasmin, T., Bagchi, M., Chatterjee, A., Vinson, J. A., & Bagchi, D. (2007). Berry anthocyanins as novel antioxidants in human health and disease prevention. Molecular nutrition & food research, 51(6), 675-683.

CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD SUGAR

• In a small study of 10 overweight adults who took 100 grams of acai pulp twice a day for a month, cholesterol and glucose levels were reduced. From: Udani, J. K., Singh, B. B., Singh, V. J., & Barrett, M. L. (2011). Effects of Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry preparation on metabolic parameters in a healthy overweight population: a pilot study. Nutrition journal, 10(1), 45.
• Anthocyanin rich berries are important part of a health diet, offering improvement in LDL cholesterol, lipid peroxidation, total plasma antioxidant capacity, dyslipidemia, and glucose metabolism. From: Basu, A., Rhone, M., & Lyons, T. J. (2010). Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health. Nutrition reviews, 68(3), 168-177.
• In a study of 31 pre-hypertensive men, intake of 640 mg of anthocyanin daily over 4 weeks significantly increased the HDL cholesterol levels. From: JHassellund, S. S., Flaa, A., Kjeldsen, S. E., Seljeflot, I., Karlsen, A., Erlund, I., & Rostrup, M. (2013). Effects of anthocyanins on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation in pre-hypertensive men: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover study. Journal of human hypertension, 27(2), 100.

ANTIOXIDANT

• Plasma antioxidant capacity was increased 2-3 times after people ate anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp. From: Mertens-Talcott, S. U., Rios, J., Jilma-Stohlawetz, P., Pacheco-Palencia, L. A., Meibohm, B., Talcott, S. T., & Derendorf, H. (2008). Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after the consumption of anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in human healthy volunteers. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 56(17), 7796-7802.

COGNITION

• Acai berry pulp had a protective effect on brain cells, which could improve cognition and motor function. From: Poulose, S. M., Fisher, D. R., Larson, J., Bielinski, D. F., Rimando, A. M., Carey, A. N., … & Shukitt-Hale, B. (2012). Anthocyanin-rich açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) fruit pulp fractions attenuate inflammatory stress signaling in mouse brain BV-2 microglial cells. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 60(4), 1084-1093.

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

• Acai berry juice improved athletic performance measures in elite athletes. From: Carvalho-Peixoto, J., Moura, M. R. L., Cunha, F. A., Lollo, P. C. B., Monteiro, W. D., Carvalho, L. M. J. D., & Farinatti, P. D. T. V. (2015). Consumption of açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) functional beverage reduces muscle stress and improves effort tolerance in elite athletes: a randomized controlled intervention study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 40(7), 725-733.

IMMUNITY

• Polysaccharides in acai fruit induced a significant immune response in vitro. From: Holderness, J., Schepetkin, I. A., Freedman, B., Kirpotina, L. N., Quinn, M. T., Hedges, J. F., & Jutila, M. A. (2011). Polysaccharides isolated from Acai fruit induce innate immune responses. PLoS One, 6(2), e17301.

CARDIAC HEALTH

• Acai berries, rich in plant sterols, may help vasodilate and relax blood vessels to reduce blood pressure. From: Rocha, A. P. M., Carvalho, L. C. R. M., Sousa, M. A. V., Madeira, S. F., Sousa, P. J. C., Tano, T., … & De Moura, R. S. (2007). Endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect of Euterpe oleracea Mart.(Acai) extracts in mesenteric vascular bed of the rat. Vascular Pharmacology, 46(2), 97-104.
• Intake of acaii berry extracts had a hypertensive effect in vivo. From: Rocha, A. P. M., Resende, A. C., Souza, M. A. V., Carvalho, L. C. R. M., Sousa, P. J. C., Tano, T., … & Soares De Moura, R. (2008). Antihypertensive effects and antioxidant action of a hydro-alcoholic extract obtained from fruits of Euterpe oleracea Mart.(Açaí). J Pharmacol Toxicol, 3(6), 435-448.

JOINT PAIN / ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

• In a study of 14 patients with osteo-arthritis pain, eating acai berry pulp over 12 weeks had an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, thus reducing pain, and increasing range of motion. From: Jensen, G. S., Ager, D. M., Redman, K. A., Mitzner, M. A., Benson, K. F., & Schauss, A. G. (2011). Pain reduction and improvement in range of motion after daily consumption of an açai (euterpe oleracea mart.) pulp–fortified polyphenolic-rich fruit and berry juice blend. Journal of medicinal food, 14(7-8), 702-711.
• Flavonoids from acai showed anti-inflammatory activities. From: Kang, J., Xie, C., Li, Z., Nagarajan, S., Schauss, A. G., Wu, T., & Wu, X. (2011). Flavonoids from acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Food Chemistry, 128(1), 152-157.

ANTI-CANCER

• Berries, colorful due to their polyphenol content, are packed with cancer preventive constituents. From: Seeram, N. P. (2008). Berry fruits for cancer prevention: current status and future prospects. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 56(3), 630-635.

Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 11/8/18