Acai may be beneficial for autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, which most commonly causes pain in the joints of your hands and feet. This potential benefit comes from acai's antioxidant effects and its cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 inhibiting effects, says Barrie R. Cassileth, lead author of "Herb-Drug Interactions in Oncology." COX-1 and COX-2 are enzymes that produce prostaglandins, which in turn promote inflammation and pain. Always consult a doctor before trying a new supplement, especially if you are treating a health condition.
COX-1 Inhibiting Complications
If you take acai to inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 in an attempt to fight joint pain, you also are inhibiting the enzymes that produce prostaglandins, which have some important functions in your body. COX-1-activated prostaglandins protect your stomach and intestinal linings and also activate blood platelets, which are important for clotting. Reducing the prostaglandins that protect your stomach could cause ulcers in your stomach and intestines. Likewise, reducing prostaglandins that promote blood clotting raises your risk for bleeding or bruising, according to the RxList.com website. Drugs that inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes include nonsteroidal antiinflammatories that are used to alleviate pain. Celecoxib, the only COX-2 inhibitor available in the United States, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. This drug does not inhibit COX-1.
Drug Interactions
Acai is high in potassium. That means you need to consult a doctor before consuming it to treat joint pain if you take prescription blood pressure medications due to a theoretical drug interaction that can lead to levels of potassium in your body that are too high, notes Tennessee wellness counselor Neva J. Howell. Too-high potassium levels are called hyperkalemia. This condition can lead to an irregular heartbeat, a slow or weak pulse and nausea, according to MedlinePlus, and cardiac arrest is possible at any time during the treatment of hyperkalemia. Howell also notes that drug interactions for acai are not well-studied, so some unknown interactions may exist. Also, your acai product may contain other herbs, juices, vitamins and minerals, all of which may have interactions with medications or other supplements.
Pocketbook Problems
You risk unknowingly becoming stuck with a pricey subscription if you take advantage of a free trial offer for an acai product that promises to cure your joint pain, says the "Consumer Action Handbook," author Stephen R. Leeds. Companies market acai as a "miracle food" that can cure everything from arthritis to cancer to heart disease. Be especially wary of companies that use celebrity names to market their products, make exaggerated claims and offer you those free trials, Leeds says. Howell also notes that processing greatly reduces the beneficial components in acai, so you may not be gaining the benefit you seek with certain products.
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