Acai berry can frequently be found as an ingredient in weight loss products and supplements meant to boost antioxidants. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate products that contain acai berry, which means the companies that manufacture acai berry pills are not required to fully research the side effects and benefits of the products that they sell. With that being said, there are a number of side effects that you should be conscious of before deciding whether or not to try the supplement for yourself.
Allergic Reaction
The University of Michigan Health System states that you should avoid taking acai berry pills and any other forms of the berry if you are hypersensitive to acai or other berries, such as blueberries, or if you are allergic to pollen. Taking the supplement with any of these allergies could set off an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, congestion, watery or itchy eyes, hives, rash, swelling of the face or swelling of the throat. Those suffering from an allergic reaction will not necessarily have all of the symptoms, but should seek medical assistance if any of these symptoms occur.
Stomach Problems
Acai berry pills include an extremely high amount of fiber. Fiber makes up about 35 percent of the acai berry supplement. According to Dr. Paul Gross, the high fiber content that is found in acai berry capsules make it act as though it is a natural laxative. As it moves the waste through the body, the laxative may leave you with stomach cramps, which can become severe and painful. The fiber also aids the body in softening the hard stools that are found in the colon. The softening of the stools can cause you to have sudden diarrhea.
Interference with Chemotherapy Drugs
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that cancer patients who receive chemotherapy drugs should avoid taking acai berry supplements. Acai berry has many antioxidant effects that have been found to interfere with some forms of chemotherapy drugs, causing the chemotherapy to not function in the way that it is supposed to. The complete effects of the interference are not well known. Additional testing and research needs to be performed.
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