ACAI: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Acai (Euterpe oleracea), pronounced AH-sigh-EE, is a palm tree found throughout South America. Its berries are dark purple and used to make medicine.

Acai contains antioxidants which are thought to protect cells from damage. Acai berries are believed to have more antioxidant content than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry. Chemicals in acai might also reduce swelling, lower blood sugar levels, and stimulate the immune system.

People commonly use acai for athletic performance, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction (ED), obesity, aging skin, metabolic syndrome, and many other conditions. But there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for ACAI overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Acai is possibly safe when used for up to 3 months. It's usually well-tolerated. But be aware that raw acai juice can be contaminated with parasites. In rare cases, drinking the raw juice has been linked to outbreaks of a disease called American trypanosomiasis or Chagas Disease.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if acai is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Acai might increase or decrease blood sugar by a small amount, but this probably isn't a big concern for most people.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with ACAI
Acai might lower or raise blood sugar levels. Taking acai along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low or reduce effects of the medications. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Dosing

As a food, the acai berry is eaten raw and as a juice. The juice is also used in beverages and in ice cream, jelly, and liqueurs.

In supplements, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of acai might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Holderness, J., Schepetkin, I. A., Freedman, B., Kirpotina, L. N., Quinn, M. T., Hedges, J. F., and Jutila, M. A. Polysaccharides isolated from Acai fruit induce innate immune responses. PLoS.One. 2011;6(2):e17301. View abstract.

Jensen, G. S., Wu, X., Patterson, K. M., Barnes, J., Carter, S. G., Scherwitz, L., Beaman, R., Endres, J. R., and Schauss, A. G. 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. J.Agric.Food Chem. 9-24-2008;56(18):8326-8333. View abstract.

Lubrano, C., Robin, J. R., and Khaiat, A. Fatty acid, sterol and tocopherol composition of oil form the fruit mesocarp of six palm species in French Guiana. Oleagineux 1994;49:59-65.

Mertens-Talcott, S. U., Rios, J., Jilma-Stohlawetz, P., Pacheco-Palencia, L. A., Meibohm, B., Talcott, S. T., and Derendorf, H. Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after the consumption of anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in human healthy volunteers. J.Agric.Food Chem. 9-10-2008;56(17):7796-7802. View abstract.

Noratto, G. D., Angel-Morales, G., Talcott, S. T., and Mertens-Talcott, S. U. Polyphenolics from acai ( Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and red muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia ) protect human umbilical vascular Endothelial cells (HUVEC) from glucose- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and target microRNA-126. J Agric.Food Chem. 7-27-2011;59(14):7999-8012. View abstract.

Pereira, K. S., Schmidt, F. L., Guaraldo, A. M., Franco, R. M., Dias, V. L., and Passos, L. A. Chagas' disease as a foodborne illness. J.Food Prot. 2009;72(2):441-446. View abstract.

Pozo-Insfran, D., Percival, S. S., and Talcott, S. T. Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) polyphenolics in their glycoside and aglycone forms induce apoptosis of HL-60 leukemia cells. J Agric.Food Chem 2-22-2006;54(4):1222-1229. View abstract.

Rodrigues, R. B., Lichtenthaler, R., Zimmermann, B. F., Papagiannopoulos, M., Fabricius, H., Marx, F., Maia, J. G., and Almeida, O. Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (acai) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds. J.Agric.Food Chem. 6-14-2006;54(12):4162-4167. View abstract.

Smith RE, Eaker J Tran K Smith C Monroe DM da Silva Menezes EM Sabaa-Srur AUO Luo R. Wycoff W Fales WH. Proposed Benchmark Methods for Analyzing Açaí (Euterpe oleraceae Mart.). The Natural Products Journal 2012;2:276-285.

Stoner, G. D., Wang, L. S., Seguin, C., Rocha, C., Stoner, K., Chiu, S., and Kinghorn, A. D. Multiple berry types prevent N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced esophageal cancer in rats. Pharm.Res 2010;27(6):1138-1145. View abstract.

Cordova-Fraga T, de Araujo DB, Sanchez TA, et al. Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) as an alternative oral contrast agent in MRI of the gastrointestinal system: preliminary results. Magn Reson Imaging 2004;22:389-93. View abstract.

de Liz S, Cardoso AL, Copetti CLK, et al. Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) juices improved HDL-c levels and antioxidant defense of healthy adults in a 4-week randomized cross-over study. Clin Nutr. 2020;39(12):3629-3636. View abstract.

de Moraes Arnoso BJ, Magliaccio FM, de Araújo CA, et al. Açaí seed extract (ASE) rich in proanthocyanidins improves cardiovascular remodeling by increasing antioxidant response in obese high-fat diet-fed mice. Chem Biol Interact 2022;351:109721. View abstract.

Del Pozo-Insfran D, Brenes CH, Talcott ST. Phytochemical composition and pigment stability of Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.). J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:1539-45. View abstract.

Earling M, Beadle T, Niemeyer ED. Açai berry (Euterpe oleracea) dietary supplements: variations in anthocyanin and flavonoid concentrations, phenolic contents, and antioxidant properties. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2019;74(3):421-9. View abstract.

Halliwell B. Lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and cardiovascular disease: how should we move forward? Cardiovasc Res 2000;47(3):410-8. View abstract.

Kim H, Simbo SY, Fang C, et al. Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) beverage consumption improves biomarkers for inflammation but not glucose- or lipid-metabolism in individuals with metabolic syndrome in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Food Funct. 2018;9(6):3097-3103. View abstract.

Marui N, Offermann MK, Swerlick R, et al. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) gene transcription and expression are regulated through an antioxidant-sensitive mechanism in human vascular endothelial cells. J Clin Invest 1993;92(4):1866-74. View abstract.

Nóbrega AA, Garcia MH, Tatto E, et al. Oral transmission of Chagas disease by consumption of açaí palm fruit, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 2009;15(4):653-5. View abstract.

Oppitz SJ, Garcia MV, Bruno RS, et al. Supplementation with açaí (Euterpe Oleracea Martius) for the treatment of chronic tinnitus: effects on perception, anxiety levels and oxidative metabolism biomarkers. Codas 2022;34(4):e20210076. View abstract.

Reed TT. Lipid peroxidation and neurodegenerative disease. Free Radical Biol Med 2011;51(7):1302-19.

Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, et al. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem 2006;54:8604-10. View abstract.

Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, et al. Phytochemical and nutrient composition of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem 2006;54:8598-603. View abstract.

Souza MO, Barbosa P, Pala D, Amaral JF, Volp ACP, Freitas RN. A prospective study in women: açaí (Euterpe oleracea Martius) dietary intake affects serum p-selectin, leptin, and visfatin levels. Nutr Hosp. 2021;38(1):121-127. View abstract.

Souza-Monteiro JR, Arrifano GPF, Queiroz AIDG, et al. Antidepressant and antiaging efffects of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in mice. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2019;2019:3614960. View abstract.

Terrazas SIBM, Galan BSM, De Carvalho FG, et al. Açai pulp supplementation as a nutritional strategy to prevent oxidative damage, improve oxidative status, and modulate blood lactate of male cyclists. Eur J Nutr 2019. Online ahead of print. View abstract.

Udani JK, Singh BB, Singh VJ, Barrett ML. Effects of acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry preparation on metabolic parameters in a healthy overweight population: a pilot study. Nutr J 2011;10:45. View abstract.

Yamaguchi KK, Pereira LF, Lamarão CV, Lima ES, da Veiga-Junior VF. Amazon acai: chemistry and biological activities: a review. Food Chem 2015;179:137-51. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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