The acai berry is a South American fruit that proponents contend can help you with a number of health problems ranging from obesity to high cholesterol. Acai berries are related to other berries, such as cranberries, that scientific research indicates may be effective at preventing the development of bladder infections. However, no solid evidence links acai berry consumption with a decrease in bladder infections. In addition, berry supplementation is not a more effective treatment for bladder infections than antibiotics. Speak to your doctor before attempting to use acai berry supplements as a method for dealing with bladder infections or any other medical condition.
Acai Berry
The acai berry -- also known as the Amazonian palm berry or cabbage palm and by the botanical name Euterpe oleracea -- has been used for generations in Central and South America as a folk medicine treatment for diarrhea, colds, influenza and pain. The berry contains high concentrations of flavonoids such as proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, compounds which act as strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Because of these properties, alternative medicine practitioners recommend acai berry supplementation as a way to prevent cardiovascular disease, immune system disorders, atherosclerosis and cancer. However, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center points out that there is no reputable clinical research on acai berries.
Effect on Bladder Infections
The National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus advises that there is simply not enough available evidence about acai berry supplementation to determine if it is a good treatment for any condition, including bladder infections. According to MayoClinic.com, acai berries may provide significant amounts of fiber and phytochemicals associated with a decreased risk of certain diseases, but nothing specific links its use to a decreased risk of bladder infections. Acai berries may contain an even higher concentration of antioxidants than other antioxidant-rich berries such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries, but antioxidant content does not appear to make a food better able to prevent or treat bladder infections.
Acai Berry vs. Cranberry
It's tempting to assume that since acai berries are related to cranberries and are touted by proponents as being healthier, acai berries would be even more effective at preventing bladder infections. A 2004 study conducted by Yale University School of Medicine assistant professor Dr. Kalpana Gupta determined that a woman's risk of developing urinary tract and bladder infections decreased significantly if she increased her daily cranberry juice consumption from 4 ounces to 8 ounces. But these results cannot be used to evaluate the acai berry's effect on bladder infections, since the research did not examine the effects of any other type of juice on bacteria and, according to Abigail Zuger, M.D., scientists are still uncertain what compound in cranberry juice is responsible for the effect and whether or not that compound is present in other berries.
Expert Insight
Even if acai berry supplementation turns out to be as effective as cranberry juice or pills at preventing bladder infections, health professionals warn that no alternative medicine treatment is more reliable and effective than antibiotics at preventing urinary tract infections. Acai berry supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not inspected to confirm their safety or purity. Do not attempt to self-treat a bladder infection with acai berries and do not substitute the berries for medication that your doctor has prescribed.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Acai
- Drugs.com: Acai
- MayoClinic.com: Acai Berry Products - Do They Have Health Benefits?
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Acai Berry
- MedlinePlus: Acai
- The New York Times; Reputation of a Berry is Difficult to Confirm; Abigail Zuger, M.D.
- MSNBC.com: Antibiotics Beat Cranberries in Battle Against Bladder Infections
- Juice Products Association: More Cranberry Juice Better Against Urinary Tract Infections - Researchers Find Evidence That 8 Ounces are More Effective than 4
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