Groundbreaking Study: Link between Açai and chronic diseases

Written by Tara Schomacker, Originally Published by Nutriscience Labs

A pilot study was conducted on risk factors for metabolic disorders in overweight people who consumed 100g açai pulp twice daily for 1 month. The researchers were looking for risk factors such as irregularities in lipid and glucose metabolism which have been correlated to cardiovascular disease and/or type-2 diabetes.

The researchers hypothesized that the antioxidant potential of açai will assist in normalizing the metabolic pathways already shown to correlate with metabolic disorders. The hypothesis was tested in a small pilot study of 10 participants, and is one of the first to study the association between an açai preparation and this type of health benefit in humans. The study took place in 2009 at the Staywell Research in California and the subjects were designated as healthy, overweight men and women based on predetermined exclusion criteria assessed during a medical history and physical examination.

Results revealed decreased levels of fasting glucose, plasma fasting insulin, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol. The level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol did not change significantly. Previous studies have indicated that a reduction in fasting glucose levels and cholesterol are linked to lower risks of diabetes. Prior studies have also indicated that a reduced ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol in combination with a reduction of LDL cholesterol may decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers feel that the positive results of this pilot study merit further investigation, including a larger placebo controlled trial.

References:

Udani, J. et al. (2011 May 12) Effects of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry preparation on metabolic parameters in a healthy overweight population: A pilot study. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118329/?tool=pubmed