Acai Berry Juice Not Just For Weight LossIt May Increase Lifespan

By Matthew Papaconstantinou, PhD

The results of numerous studies have shown that botanical-rich diets have significant health benefits, and recent research is finding that the fruit acai shows particularly promising therapeutic properties. A product of the palm trees found growing near the Amazon River in South America, acai is a fruit in the berry family that has gained a reputation as a superfood. Although marketing of the acai berry dietary supplement has mostly focused on its use as a weight loss aid, it has many additional health benefits that shouldn't be overlooked.

The purple acai is rich in a type of phytonutrient called anthocyanins, which gives berries their red, blue, and purple colors. Anthocyanins are known to have a number of beneficial properties, and studies have shown they play a role in encouraging anti-inflammatory, anti-cardiovascular, and anti-carcinogenic activity. In fact, one study found that anthocyanins were associated with a more than 50% decrease in cancer cell growth. Anthocyanins also demonstrate anti-aging properties, reducing the oxidative stress associated with aging, improving brain function, and protecting and repairing DNA—a particularly important effect, as DNA damage may be a major cause of aging.

Study Finds Acai Increases Lifespan
A common theory states that aging occurs due to oxidative damage caused by free radicals—highly reactive molecules that can cause cell damage. The oxidative damage done to macromolecules like DNA can accumulate with age, and it is thought that reducing this damage may be an effective anti-aging intervention. This belief has been supported by animal studies that have shown increased lifespan as a result of reduced oxidative damage.

The journal Experimental Gerontology published a study in its January 2010 issue that used Drosophila melanogaster, also known as the fruit fly, to examine acai berry's anti-aging properties. The study looked at the effect acai had on two different models of aging: fruit flies fed a high fat diet and fruits flies living under extreme oxidative stress.

The High Fat Diet: Acai Reverses Its Harmful Effect
Researchers hypothesized that acai pulp's previously demonstrated beneficial phytochemicals and anti-oxidant properties should have the effect of reversing the damage associated with a high fat diet (damage known to occur both in fruit flies and humans). To test this hypothesis, the researchers placed the fruit flies in two different conditions. Both groups of flies were fed a diet high in saturated fat, known to decrease lifespan by 19% when compared to a standard diet. Only one of the groups received a 2% dietary supplement of acai pulp.

When the two groups were compared, the group of flies that received the acai supplement were found to have a 22% increase in lifespan—an increase that made up for the decrease in lifespan normally associated with a diet high in saturated fat. Further examination showed that the acai supplement caused certain genes—those known as anti-aging genes—to become more active.

People who consume diets high in fat face an increased risk for a number of health complications, including insulin resistance and its eventual consequence, type 2 diabetes. Dr. Sun, the study's lead author, noted that the findings “suggest that acai pulp may be effective in prevention and control of type 2 diabetes.” The results certainly appear to show that supplementation with acai pulp can reverse the harmful effects of a high fat diet.

Oxidative Stress: Acai Alleviates Damage
The researchers also hypothesized that flies suffering from oxidative stress would see improved survival rates if supplemented with acai pulp. In order to test this, they used flies that had been genetically modified to have a dysfunctional Superoxide Dismutase enzyme (SOD). Because SOD repairs cells and reduces damage done by free radicals, flies with a dysfunctional SOD enzyme live in a constant state of oxidative stress due to their inability to repair oxidative damage. This makes the SOD-mutated flies useful in studying the biology of aging.

When the genetically modified flies were fed 2% acai pulp over their lifetime, their total lifespan was increased by about 18% compared to the SOD-mutated flies that did not receive the supplement. These results suggest that acai pulp alleviates oxidative stress and improves survival.

The study's authors point to acai's high concentration of polyphenolics as the possible reason for its demonstrated anti-aging properties in fruit flies. A similar effect was demonstrated in a study of resveratrol supplementation in mice, which found that the supplementation increased longevity in mice given a diet high in fat. Resveratrol is also a polyphenolic compound with demonstrated anti-aging properties.

In Conclusion
Although peer-reviewed journals have published over 20 studies on acai berry's antioxidant properties and potential health benefits, no other study had tested acai's anti-aging properties in animals. Acai berry's effectiveness in aiding weight loss is still being studied, but anecdotal evidence suggests that shedding pounds may be another of the berry's many health benefits. All diets designed to induce health weight loss should include berries and other fruits as a key element.

About the Author

Matthew Papaconstantinou is a biochemist who closely follows scientific research and market trends on natural weight loss supplements. Acai berry has become extremely popular in recent years, seeing a demand that outpaces that of discount opportunities for popular diets such as Medifast coupon, Bistro MD discount code, and savings coupon for Nutrisystem diet. This Amazon fruit is now widely considered a superfood that that can increase health and prevent disease.

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