Acai Berry: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More By Dr. Smita Barode

Introduction:

“Let food be your first medicine and kitchen be your first pharmacy”. This saying acknowledges the importance of eating healthy and using fruits and vegetables for their health benefits. One fruit that has gained limelight due to its health benefits is the Acai berry. It is a small round berry (usually the size of a grape) obtained from the Acai palm Euterpe oleracea Martius. It is green when immature and ripens to a dark purple colour. This plant is native to south and Central America. In India, it is called ‘kallaa pazham’ and its cultivation is limited to Kerala. Mostly in other parts of India, freeze-dried powder or purées are available. Let us know more about the health benefits of this super berry.¹ 

Nutritional Value of Acai Berry:

Acai berries are packed with the goodness of dietary fibres, proteins and minerals like potassium, calcium etc. They are rich in fatty acids, especially palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid. The phytochemicals in Acai berries include anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. The nutritional Value of Acai berry is given below.  

• Energy: 700 kCal per 100 g
• Fat: 50 g per 100 g
• Dietary Fibre: 30 g per 100 g
• Protein: 10 g per 100 g
• Potassium: 1.1 g per 100 g
• Calcium: 200 mg per 100 g

Properties of Acai Berry:

Acai berry shows numerous scientifically proven properties; some of which are mentioned below: ³ 

• It may have antioxidant properties. 
• It has properties to reduce inflammation. 
• It may have properties to halt the uncontrolled growth of cells. 
• It may have the potential to reduce blood glucose levels. 
• It may have properties to reduce the body’s response to toxic stimuli (like harmful chemicals, injury and adverse temperatures) and thus reduce the sensation of pain. 
• It may have protective properties for the heart.  
• It may have properties to correct high lipid levels. 

Based on some research, the consumption of acai berries might help improve cognitive function in patients suffering from dementia.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Potential Uses of Acai Berry for Overall Health:

Some of the potential benefits of Acai berries are described below. 

1. Potential use of Acai berry in Non-alcoholic Fatty liver disease 

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most predominant liver diseases worldwide. Phenolic compounds, especially those belonging to the anthocyanin class, may help manage NAFLD. Pirrozi et al. in 2020 conducted a review that stated that Acai berry, due to a high content of phenolic compounds, may help reduce fat accumulation in the liver and may potentially benefit NAFLD. However, these results are not proven in any animal or human study and should not be generalised for treating NAFLD in humans.³ 

2. Potential uses of Acai berry in lung cancer 

Over the past few years, the Indian system of medicine has been formulating different extracts from herbs and seeds for managing cancers of the lung, breast, etc. Martinez et al. conducted a study in 2018 that showed that extract from Acai berries showed a protective effect against lung cancer. Additionally, phytochemicals like anthocyanins reduce the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. This shows that Acai berries may have the potential to manage lung cancer. However, further research is needed to ascertain these claims as the scientific evidence available is insufficient to claim these results in human beings.⁴ 

3. Potential uses of Acai berry to manage cholesterol levels 

Hypercholesterolemia is elevated blood cholesterol levels and is considered a risk factor for heart disease. Melina et al. conducted a study in 2009 showing that Acai berry consumption potentially impacted cholesterol levels in an animal model. These astonishing results show the importance of Acai berry in lowering blood cholesterol and thus, its potential to exert a protective effect on the heart. However, we need human trials to support these claims.⁵ 

4. Potential uses of Acai berry in inflammation 

Inflammation is a part of the body’s defence mechanism, which helps remove harmful and foreign substances from the body and helps in the healing process. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are two conditions characterised by inflammation of the intestines, which are clinically shown as symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss, etc. A study by Kim et al. in 2011 assessed the potential of Acai berries in intestinal inflammation. The presence of anthocyanins in Acai berries helped in reducing inflammation. Thus, it can be concluded that Acai berries may potentially manage inflammation and can be used to manage intestinal inflammatory diseases. However, we need more scientific evidence to support these claims in humans.⁶ 

5. Potential uses of Acai berry for blood glucose 

Blood glucose is the main sugar found in the blood and is produced by the breakdown of food that we eat. Udani et al. conducted a study in 2011 showing that Acai berry helps reduce blood glucose and improve insulin (a hormone that regulates blood glucose) sensitivity. These astonishing results show the importance of Acai berry in lowering blood glucose levels and thus, its potential to manage diabetes. However, we need human trials to support these claims.⁷ 

Other potential uses of Acai Berry:  

• Traditionally, Acai berries were used for healing wounds.⁶ 
• Acai berries may boost cognitive function and help in managing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.⁸ 
• It is known to enhance immunity.⁸ 
• It may help in weight loss.⁹ 

Though there are studies that show the benefits of Acai berry in various conditions, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of acai berry on human health.  

According to some studies, acai berry extracts might have some anti-oxidative effects due to the presence of some phenolic compounds, which might be beneficial in oral wound healing.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

How to Use Acai Berry?

• Acai berries are consumed raw, ripe or as a juice. 
• The juice of Acai berry is used commercially in syrups, ice creams, jellies, etc.¹ 

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.   

Side Effects of Acai Berry:

Data from the Natural Medicines comprehensive database from 2020 states that raw Acai berry juice consumption can lead to a disease known as American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease. This only happens when Acai berry is contaminated with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagas disease is characterised by the issues of the heart and digestive system. 

However, if you experience any adverse reactions to Acai berries, it is advised to discontinue its intake and immediately contact a doctor or your Ayurvedic physician who has prescribed it. They will be able to guide you appropriately for your symptoms.⁹ 

Precautions to take with Acai Berry:

Consuming Acai berry is okay if taken in moderate amounts. However, general precautions must be followed in the following conditions: 

• If buying freeze-dried or powdered Acai berries, it is advised to always get the ones assessed for their quality and efficacy FDA, FSSAI, etc. Check for these labels on the packets before you purchase them. 
• The safety of Acai berries in special groups like the elderly, children and pregnant and lactating women is not well-established. Therefore, necessary precautions must be taken. It is always advised to consult a physician if you plan to add Acai berries to your diet. 

Interactions with Other Drugs:

• Acai berries may interact with your diabetic medicines and cause blood glucose to drop too low. Avoid taking them together.⁷ 
• Acai berries may interact with lipid-lowering drugs and may result in excessive lipid-lowering effects.⁷ 
• Acai berries may interact with chemotherapeutic agents (drugs used for treating cancers) and may result in undesirable effects.⁴  

However, you must always seek the advice of your Ayurvedic physician about the possible interaction of Acai berry with other drugs and follow the prescription thoroughly, as they will know your health condition and other medications you are taking. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

References:

1. N Marcason W. What is the açaí berry and are there health benefits? J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Nov;109(11):1968. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.09.017. PMID: 19857637. Available at: https://www.jandonline.org/article/S0002-8223(09)01606-X/fulltext 

2. Acai Berry Powder by Health Matters America Inc. Acai berry powder by HEALTH MATTERS AMERICA INC. nutrition facts and analysis. Available at: https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Acai_berry_powder_by_HEALTH_MATTERS_AMERICA_INC._1064123_nutritional_value.html?size=100%2Bg (Accessed: January 19, 2023).  

3. Pirozzi, Anna Virginia Adriana et al. “Antioxidant and Hypolipidemic Activity of Açai Fruit Makes It a Valuable Functional Food.” Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 10,1 40. 31 Dec. 2020, doi:10.3390/antiox10010040. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/1/40 

4. Martinez, Raquel Martins et al. “Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Seed Extract Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Lung Carcinoma Cells.” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 7,11 178. 26 Oct. 2018, doi:10.3390/foods7110178. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30373103/ 

5. Melina Oliveira et al. “Diet supplementation with acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp improves biomarkers of oxidative stress and the serum lipid profile in rats.” Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) vol. 26,7-8 (2010): 804-10. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2009.09.007. available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20022468/ 

6. Kim, Kyeong Jin et al. “Acai berry extract as a regulator of intestinal inflammation pathways in a Caco-2 and RAW 264.7 co-culture model.” Journal of food biochemistry, e13848. 5 Jul. 2021, doi:10.1111/jfbc.13848. available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34227129/ 

7. Udani, Jay K et al. “Effects of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry preparation on metabolic parameters in a healthy overweight population: a pilot study.” Nutrition journal vol. 10 45. 12 May. 2011, doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-45. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118329/ 

8. ALNasser, Maryam N et al. “A Preliminary Assessment of the Nutraceutical Potential of Acai Berry (Euterpe sp.) as a Potential Natural Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 27,15 4891. 30 Jul. 2022, doi:10.3390/molecules27154891. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9370152/ 

9. Acai: Overview, uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, dosing and reviews (no date) WebMD. WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1109/acai (Accessed: January 19, 2023).  

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