Acai berry is the dark purple fruit of the acai palm, a tall tree native to Central and South America. An important food source in some of the places where it grows, acai berry has received widespread acclaim in recent years for its purported health benefits, which have been the subject of debate among health and nutrition experts. MayoClinic.com cautions that, while acai berry juice benefits have been widely touted, research evidence supporting some of the claims is limited.
Arthritis
Acai berry juice improved some arthritis symptoms for participants in a study published in the April 20011 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food." Study volunteers, all of whom had pain and reduced range of motion that interfered with their daily activities, drank 120 mL per day of a commercial juice blend that contained predominantly acai berry juice, for 12 weeks. Results showed significant pain reduction, increased range of motion and improved ability to carry out activities of daily living. Antioxidant levels increased by the second week and continued to increase thereafter, with mild deceases in oxidized lipids at the twelfth week. Inflammation was marginally reduced at the end of the study. The researchers concluded that the results of their study warrant further investigation into the potential health benefits of acai berry juice.
Cardiovascular Effects
Acai juice antioxidants inhibit inflammation and prevent oxidative damage to the cardiovascular system, according to a study published in the February 2011 issue of the journal "Atherosclerosis." In the laboratory animal study, diets consisting of 5 percent acai juice powder for 20 weeks increased levels of HDL, the good form of cholesterol, and decreased levels of oxidized liver lipids. Activity of two important antioxidant enzymes was significantly increased in the aorta -- the main artery that supplies blood from the heart to the body. Acai juice also inhibited genes that code for the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. The researchers concluded from the results of their preliminary animal study that acai berry juice shows promise for prevention of atherosclerosis. Further testing on humans is warranted to confirm these preliminary results.
Immune Benefits
Your immune system may benefit from acai berry juice, according to authors of a study published in the February 2011 issue of the journal "PLoS One." Acai berry contains types of polyphenol antioxidants similar to those found in other fruits known to boost immune function. In this study, acai berry extract showed a strong stimulatory effect on T-cells -- a type of immune cell -- in both animals and humans. The researchers concluded that acai berry's effects on the immune system make it a good candidate for use as a natural therapy in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and asthma.
Short-Term Effects
The "Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry" published a study in its September 2008 issue that showed acai berry juice rapidly increases blood levels of antioxidants. In the study, 12 participants drank juice consisting primarily of acai berry, and researchers found increased antioxidant levels and decreased levels of oxidized lipids within one to two hours. The experiment showed that antioxidant constituents in the juice penetrated blood cells and protected them against oxidation. The researchers concluded that acai berry juice provides an effective short-term boost to antioxidant activity and protection against cellular damage from oxidation.
References
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; 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; G. S. Jensen et al.; April 2011
- "Atherosclerosis"; Açaí Juice Attenuates Atherosclerosis in ApoE-Deficient Mice through Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities; C. Xie et al.; February 2011
- "PLoS One"; Polysaccharides Isolated from Açaí Fruit Induce Innate Immune Responses; J. Holderness et al.; February 2011
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Capacities of an Antioxidant-Rich Fruit and Berry Juice Blend. Results of a Pilot and Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study; G. S. Jensen et al.; September 2008
- MayoClinic.com: Acai Berry Products: Do They Have Health Benefits?
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