Acai

Common Names: acai, acai berry, açaí

Latin Names: Euterpe oleracea, Euterpe badiocarpa

Background

  • The acai palm tree, native to tropical Central and South America, produces a deep purple fruit. The acai fruit has long been an important food source for indigenous peoples of the Amazon region.
  • Acai products have become popular in the United States, where they have been promoted for weight-loss and anti-aging purposes.
  • The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against companies that marketed acai weight-loss products in allegedly deceptive ways.
  • Acai fruit pulp has been used experimentally as an oral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the digestive tract.

How Much Do We Know?

  • Very little research has been done in people on the health effects of acai products.

What Have We Learned?

  • There's no definitive scientific evidence based on studies in people to support the use of acai for any health-related purpose.
  • No independent studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals that substantiate claims that acai alone promotes rapid weight loss. When investigating the safety profile of an acai-fortified juice in rats, researchers found no differences in body weight changes between animals given the juice and animals not given the juice.
  • A preliminary study suggested that eating acai fruit pulp might reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels in people who are overweight.
  • Laboratory studies have focused on acai's potential antioxidant properties, and a juice blend with acai as the main ingredient has been shown to have an antioxidant effect in people. (Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells against certain types of damage.

 

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