Acai Berry Extract supplement information, benefit, side effects, risks, review - Avoid the scams, this page will provide you with honest information and the latest studies and research trials published in medical journals

The acai palm tree is native to tropical Central and South America, from Belize south to Brazil growing primarily in floodplains and swamps. The acai berry is the fruit of the acai palm and is traditionally consumed in Brazil but has gained popularity in the United States as a food and functional ingredient.

Introduction to the United States
Brothers Jeremy and Ryan Black introduced acai berries to the US in the year 2000 after Ryan and a friend learned about the berries and their purported health benefits while visiting Brazil. Sambazon, a company owned by the Black brothers, makes only reasonable claims for its products, simply saying that acai is rich in antioxidants. But there are countless herbs, fruits, berries and vegetables that have antioxidants.

The marketing of acai products
These products have been promoted as super foods on the TV shows of Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray. Many ads for acai products bear their images but the TV stars do not endorse those products. Mehmet Oz, in an "Oprah" appearance, mentioned acai berries at the top of his list of 10 most healthful foods. Later he retracted and said they belonged on that list, but perhaps not on the top.

Products sold over the counter, availability of supplements to purchase
There are hundreds of acai product sold in health food stores and on the web.

Capsules
Acai Extract 1,000 mg (1 g) (Euterpe oleracea) (fruit)
Organic freeze dried acai 350 mg
Acai (Euterpe Oleracea) Extract 4:1 (fruit) 500 mg

Purchase Acai berry supplement, extract pills

Liquid - do not be fooled by acai liquid bottles since some of them may only have a tiny amount of acai and filled with other fruit juices
Acai Puree (Euterpe Oleracea) (fruit) 2,000 mg (2 g) per bottle. This is only 2 grams of acai per bottle which, to us, appears to be a scam. The other ingredients in this product include: Purified Water, Pear Juice Concentrate, White Grape Juice Concentrate, Chokeberry Juice Concentrate, Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (preservative) Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Xanthan Gum, Stevia.

Weight loss claims
Perhaps you are also one of those people who has been inundated with several emails a day of promoters marketing acai berry extracts for weight loss. Any type of spam email is suspect to begin with in terms of their credibility. There is no evidence that the use of these pills will help you lose weight.

Benefit for longevity, study done in flies
Açai palm fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp improves survival of flies on a high fat diet.
Exp Gerontol. 2010 Jan 18.
Açai, a fruit indigenous to the Amazon, is rich in phytochemicals that possesses high anti-oxidant activities, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-cardiovascular disease properties. We evaluated the effect of açai pulp on modulating lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Açai has the potential to antagonize the detrimental effect of fat in the diet and alleviate oxidative stress in aging.

DNA protection from damage
Evaluation of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects after acute and subacute treatments with açai pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) on mice using the erythrocytes micronucleus test and the comet assay.
Mutat Res. 2010 Jan; Ribeiro JC, Antunes LM, Aissa AF, Darin JD, De Rosso VV, Mercadante AZ, Bianchi MD. Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Açai, the fruit of a palm native to the Amazonian basin, is widely distributed in northern South America, where it has considerable economic importance. Whereas individual polyphenolics compounds in açai have been extensively evaluated, studies of the intact fruit and its biological properties are lacking. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo genotoxicity of açai and its possible antigenotoxicity on doxorubicin (DXR)-induced DNA damage. The results of chemical analysis suggested the presence of carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenolic, and flavonoids in açai pulp. The endpoints analyzed were micronucleus induction in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells polychromatic erythrocytes, and DNA damage in peripheral blood, liver and kidney cells assessed using the alkaline (pH >13) comet assay. There were no statistically significant differences between the negative control and the groups treated with the three doses of açai pulp alone in all endpoints analyzed, demonstrating the absence of genotoxic effects. The protective effects of açai pulp were observed in both acute and subacute treatments, when administered prior to DXR. In general, subacute treatment provided greater efficiency in protecting against DXR-induced DNA damage in liver and kidney cells. These protective effects can be explained as the result of the phytochemicals present in açai pulp. These results will be applied to the developmental of food with functional characteristics, as well as to explore the characteristics of açai as a health promoter.

Acai fruit information
The acai fruit is a small, round, black-purple berry about 1 inch in diameter, similar in appearance and size to a grape. The fruit has a single large seed. The outermost layer of the fruit wall of the ripe fruit is a deep purple color, or green, depending on the kind of acaí and its maturity.

Chemicals in the berry
The major chemicals in the acai berry are polyphenols, flavonoids, mostly of the anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins categories. This berry also has carotenoids, vitamin C, and lignans. Some of these lignans include dihydroconiferyl alcohol, lariciresinol, pinoresinol, syringaresinol, and protocatechuic. Lignans are representative of the aryltetrahydronaphthalene, dihydrobenzofuran, furofuran, 8-O-4'-neolignan, and tetrahydrofuran structural types.

What are some of acai health benefits?
Acai has many antioxidants and can be helpful in medical conditions where antioxidants are useful. Beyond this, we have not seen any studies that indicate acai juice or an acai supplement is helpful in treating a specific medical condition.

Acai antioxidant benefit
Acai pulp and clarified acai juice, when ingested by humans, raise the antioxidant capacity in the blood stream. Anthocyanins in acai berry are absorbed quite well from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream.

Which fruit juice is best in terms of overall health benefit and it's antioxidant level? I don't know whether to drink acai juice, mangosteen, noni, pomegranate, cranberry or another juice.
All of these juices are healthy and deserve a space in your refrigerator. One option is to have a little amount of each one on separate days, or you can find a fruit juice mix that includes acai, noni, and others.

Will acai extract flush unwanted toxins from your system?
Acai and toxins: There are many berries in grocery stores or sold as extracts in the form of supplements that have a wide range of health benefits. We are not aware of any studies that have evaluated the role of acai berries and toxin flushing. Be skeptical when hearing the words "toxin flush." This term is used by marketers and promoters, and not by honest health experts.

Does taking an acai berry extract supplement help with losing weight?
We have not seen any human studies with acai berry extract and weight loss and we doubt that this berry is an effective fat burner.

Are there any dangers in drinking acai berry juice?
As long as the acai berry juice is drank in reasonable amounts, we don't see why an acai drink would not be safe. However, if you sweeten the acai berry juice with sugar, the sugar itself can be harmful to your body.

What are acai side affects?
We are not aware of any specific acai berry extract side effects.

Pregnancy
Can a person take an acai supplement if pregnant?
    There have not been human studies with acai supplements and pregnancy, but people in Brazil eat acai berries while pregnant without problems.   

What is the recommended acai extract dosage and how often should one take this supplement?
There is no single answer that applies to everyone. Much depends on your medical condition, medications you are using, other supplements you are taking, your diet and food intake, etc. As a general rule, one capsule of acai berry supplement a few times a week is a reasonable amount.