Acai Berry Supplement Benefits, Uses & Side Effects

Acai berry supplements are proposed to have benefits for obesity, arthritis, high cholesterol, ED (erectile dysfunction) and more.

Euterpe oleracea palm trees produce acai (“ah-sigh-ee”) berries. This berry is widely claimed to be a superfood, and there is no doubt that it does offer an excellent nutritional profile.

Berries from acai palms have concentrated amounts of antioxidant compounds, fiber and heart-healthy fats. They are a rich source of anthocyanins, plant sterols and polyphenolic compounds.

While some preliminary evidence suggests that this supplement can benefit metabolic syndrome and weigh tloss, there has not been enough human research completed to rate its efficacy for these conditions. [1][2]

This article will review what researchers have discovered about acai berry constituents, uses, health benefits and safety. Side effects and interactions will also be discussed.

Acai

Fruit Extract

Cleanses

Immunity

Weight Loss

How It Works:

• Powerful natural antioxidant
• Supports healthy immune system response
• Rich source of vitamins & phytonutrients

Dosage:

Between 1000 - 2000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Acai Plant Description

According to Rainforest Alliance, Euterpe oleracea is found throughout the northern region of South America, and most of Central America.

It grows in shady rainforests, reaching heights of more than one hundred feet. [3]

The acai palm tree is slender, and develops multiple stems. Mature acai palms have between 4-8 separate stems sharing a single rooting system. [3]

Acai berries measure about half an inch in diameter. When they first emerge, they are green, but then turn dark purple/brown as they ripen between July and December.

An average mature acai palm produced between 4-8 bunches of berries annually; each weighing close to 13 pounds. [3]

Although that might seem like a lot, Dr. Joseph Mercola says that only about 15% end up being edible. [1]

Dr. Mercola states, “Because acai berries are so low in sugar and acid, which protects most fruits, they must be picked, processed, flash-pasteurized, and frozen quickly before being transported out of the Amazon. If left unprocessed, the fruit will oxidize, turn brown, and lose its beneficial nutrients.”. [1]

Rainforest Alliance states that acai palms take between 4-5 years to begin producing berries, which are distributed through the rainforest by birds and other animals that consume them. [3]

Uses for Acai Berry

Acai berries have a long history of medicinal and culinary use. They remain a dietary staple for people in the Amazon; often being mixed in porridges with manioc, a starchy root vegetable. [1]

Beverages are made with acai berry by pressing the juices from them. The fruit pulp leftover is used for dye making, and as a natural cosmetic.

Wood from acai palms is used to build houses, and the fronds are used in roof thatching. [1]

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) states that oral acai berry supplements are used for: [4]

• Osteoarthritis (joint cartilage/bone degeneration);
• Hypercholerolemia (high serum cholesterol);
• Improving general health;
• Weight loss and obesity;
• Metabolic syndrome;
• Erectile dysfunction;
• Detoxification;
• Aging skin;

NMCD states that acai berry is eaten raw in whole form, or juiced. Acai berry juice is also incorporated into ice cream, liquor and jelly. Acai berry is also used in food manufacturing as a colorant.

How does Acai Berry Work Inside the Body?

The Mayo Clinic states that acai berries might contain more antioxidant compounds than other commonly-eaten berries – like strawberries, blueberries and cranberries.

However, because research on acai has been limited in the past, this statement has yet to be confirmed. [2]

NMCD states that acai berry contains high amounts of anthocyanins, which are polyphenols that yield the fruit’s deep purple color.

Anthocyanins also contribute to this supplement’s proposed antioxidant activities. The 3 major anthocyanins in acai berry are: [4]

• Cyanidin 3-diglycoside;
• Cyanidin 3-glucoside;
• Cyanidin 3-rutoside;

Research has shown that Brazilian acai berry contains more of these beneficial anthocyanins than acai berries grown in the US.

According to Dr. Mercola, Brazil is in the process of planting over one million additional acai trees to meet international demand for this dietary supplement. [1]

Anti-Oxidants in Acai Extract

NMCD states, “The antioxidant activity of acai polyphenols may also be attributed to the conjugate forms: glucuronate, sulfonate, aglycone, and methylate.”. [4]

In addition to its anthocyanin content, acai berry also contains flavonoid-like compounds called proanthocyanidins. Some of these include homoorientin, orientin, taxifolin deoxyhexose, isovitexin, and scoparin. [4]

Acai berry also contains small amounts of a phenolic acid called protocatechuic acid, and a polyphenol called epicatechin. [4]

Acai is also a natural source of a class of hydrolyzable tannins called ellagitannins which are thought to contribute to anticancer effects. [4]

NMCD reports other acai berry constituents – including “p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, (+)-catechin, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, cyanidin, and pelargonidin 3-glucoside”. [4]

Nutritional Analysis of Acai Berries

As with many other fruits, acai berry contains a variety of vitamins and minerals that add to its nutritional value. Acai fruit also contains: [4]

• 25% fructose (fruit sugar);
• 7-11% healthy fats;
• 1-4% protein;

A 100-gram serving of acai berry will provide between 88-265 calories, depending on nutritional content of the soil it was grown in, and how it was prepared. [4]

NMCD reports that Brazilian samples of acai berry were found to be free of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, industrial chemicals, Salmonella, and coliform bacteria. [4]

However, acai berry samples from the US were found to contain genotoxic and cytotoxic oxidation products. US samples also contained sorbic acid (2,4-hexadienoic acid), a common food preservative chemical. [4]

The bioactive plant chemicals in acai berry work together to induce a range of pharmacological effects. These are described in the following sections.

Antioxidant Effects:

Polyphenol anthocyanin constituents in acai berry contribute to its antioxidant activity. Conjugate forms of these polyphenols – including glucuronate, sulfonate, aglycone, and methylate – may also contribute. [4]

In human neutrophil (white blood cell) studies, freeze-dried acai berry extract reduced ROS (reactive oxygen species) formation caused by H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)-induced oxidative stress. This occurred even with doses as low as 0.1 parts per trillion. [4]

According to NMCD, “In a pharmacokinetic analysis in healthy volunteers, the plasma antioxidant capacity was increased up to three-fold by acai juice and pulp.”. [4]

Anti-Inflammatory Effects:

In in-vitro studies, both freeze-dried acai berry pulp, and a product called OptiAçai™, selectively inhibited COX (cyclooxygenase)-1 and COX-2 enzymes. [4]

250-2500 mcg/mL freeze-dried acai fruit pulp dose-dependently inhibited NO (nitric oxide) production induced by LPS (lipopolysaccharide). [4]

NMCD states, “In LPS-induced inflammatory stress in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC), acai was found to inhibit vascular endothelial adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1) through nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibition”. [4]

In inflammation and stress induced by glucose, acai berry also downregulated two inflammatory mediators called IL (interleukin)-6 and IL-8. [4]

Lipid Balancing Effects:

In one human study, twice-daily consumption of Sambazon® Acai Smoothie Pack reduced both LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol), and total cholesterol.

It also improved the ratio between total cholesterol and HDL (high density lipoprotein)-C. However, no significant changes to VLDL (very low density lipoprotein)-C, triglycerides, or HDL-C were noted. [4]

Anti-Cancer Effects:

In-vitro studies using HL-60 human leukemia cells, 0.17-10.7mcM polyphenolic fractions from frozen acai berry pulp dose-and-time-dependently suppressed proliferation (rapid replication).

This effect was caused by a caspase-3-mediated mechanism of natural cell death (apoptosis). [4]

A 5% acai diet given to rats treated with a carcinogen called NMBA reduced esophageal tumor formations. Ellagitannin constituents were believed to be responsible. [4]

It is important to note that there is a big difference between results obtained in cell culture studies compared to results obtained in human studies.

Before determining whether acai extract has potential benefits for the prevention and treatment of cancer in humans, significantly more research needs to be conducted.

There is insufficient evidence from double-blind placebo-controlled clinical studies to make any determinations about how this supplement might affect cancer in humans.

Anti-Diabetes Effects:

Human research has shown that a frozen acai berry pulp product called Sambazon® Acai Smoothie Pack may be helpful for those with diabetes. In a 1-month study, the product was consumed twice daily by participants. [4]

Fasting glucose levels decreased on average by 5.3% compared to baseline levels. Insulin levels in plasma samples were also reduced by unspecified amounts. Researchers believe that anthocyanin compounds in acai berry cause its antidiabetic effects. [4]

Immune System Effects:

In an in-vitro study, an acai berry formulation called OptiAçai™ upregulated the activity of immune system phagocytic cells called macrophages. [4]

These large cells protect the body “by ingesting (phagocytosing) harmful foreign particles, bacteria, and dead or dying cells”. [5]

About this, NMCD states, “However, the effect was not produced in a dose-dependent manner, and low concentrations of the formulation appeared to exert higher immunostimulatory action than higher concentrations.”. [4]

Acai Berry Health Benefits

WebMD notes that, to date, acai berry has no known health benefits that are unique. That means the benefits acai has are also found in other fruits, especially some other berries. [6]

The only condition that NMCD mentions in regard to acai is metabolic syndrome; a condition marked by “a cluster of biochemical and physiological abnormalities associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.”. [4]

Concerning metabolic syndrome, NMCD reports that consuming 100 mg acai fruit pulp, twice daily for one month reduces both fasting glucose, and total cholesterol, in overweight patients. [4]

However, no effects were noted in measurements of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, NO (nitric oxide) metabolites, blood pressure or C-reactive protein. [4]

More evidence is needed from clinical trials to determine if and how acai berry is actually beneficial for any health condition. Human research is lacking for this supplement.

According to Dr. Edward Group III, acai berry offers the following healthy benefits: [7]

• Boosts immune system performance;
• May promote healthy brain aging;
• Resists harmful organisms;
• Improves cellular health;
• Promotes heart health;
• Strengthens sex drive;
• Promotes skin health;
• Has antiaging effects;
• Improves digestion;
• Reduces irritation;
• Aids weight loss;

These uses of acai berry are not based on clinical evidence, but rather animal research and laboratory studies. You should discuss the use of this natural supplement with your doctor before beginning.

Acai Berry Foods

Acai berry is often said to taste like a cross between berries and chocolate.

According to Dr. Mercola, “It’s found in large supermarkets and health food stores throughout the world, usually as a juice or tea rather than fresh, simply because getting them out of the Amazon with the nutrients still intact is a complicated process.”. [1]

Dr. Group suggests always buying acai berry that has been certified organic. Organic produce is safer because it lacks harmful chemicals used in commercial farming.

Most people also agree that organically-grown produce also tastes better, perhaps due to higher flavonoid concentrations. [7]

Acai Berry Supplements

The Mayo Clinic website states that acai berry supplements are available in tablet, capsule, powder, smoothie, energy drink and whole berry forms. Acai is also contained in numerous functional food products. [2]

NMCD states there are almost 500 different dietary supplements that contain acai berry extract. Select carefully between organic, non-GMO, and certified-safe products from well-established manufacturers. [4]

Acai supplement products should be kept dry and cool in an airtight container placed in a dark location. Fresh acai berry should be consumed as quickly as possible to limit nutrient loss due to oxidation.

Acai Berry Dosage

There are no typical doses for acai berry or other natural plant medicines. However, NMCD reports the following adult oral dosages that have been used in some studies: [4]

• 1 ounce powdered acai in 12 ounces water, once or twice daily, for general health;
• 100 g frozen acai berry pulp, twice daily for 1 month for metabolic syndrome;
• 1-2 grams daily of freeze-dried acai berry capsules for general health;

There is insufficient available evidence to recommend any dosage of acai berry in children. Usage is not recommended in people under 18 years of age until more is understood about the safety of long-term use.

There are no well-known standardized formulations of acai. Closely follow dosing instructions on an acai product you may purchase, unless otherwise instructed by your healthcare provider.

Acai Berry Side Effects

WebMD states that eating acai berry in moderate amounts is Likely Safe. However, those with allergies to acai or other berries should be cautious, or avoid consumption altogether. [6]

NMCD states that using a specific acai product for one month did not cause any adverse side effects in one study.

No toxic effects were noted in laboratory animals with doses as high as 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. That would be roughly equivalent to a 150-pound human consumption of 140 grams in a single setting.

Acai Berry Interactions

NMCD does not report any interactions between acai berry and foods, herbs, supplements or prescription drugs.

Mayo Clinic states that you should let your doctor know about using acai supplements if you are scheduled for a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test. High doses of acai could cause false results.

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