Food & Beverages, A Follow Up Acai Study Shows Promising Results in the Cancer Destroying Benefits of Acai


by GABRIELLE MARTINEAU - Date: 2008-07-15 - Word Count: 554 Share This!

In 2006, Dr Steve Talcott and colleagues found that Acai extracts destroyed cultured leukemia cancer cells. A second follow up study has now been approved for publication that provides further evidence in the possible cancer fighting benefits of the Acai Berry.

A much anticipated follow up study on the possible cancer destroying benefits of the Acai Berry has been approved for publication and is soon to be released by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The Acai Berry is a small dark purple fruit similar in size to a blueberry, that grows in bunches like grapes at the top of tall palm trees found prevalently in northern Brazil. The fruit has only a small amount of pulp with a seed making up the majority of the berry's size. It is the small amount of pulp and the skin that is used to make the many Acai based products on the North American market today.

In 2006, Dr Steve Talcott and others from the University of Florida investigated the effect of Acai Berry's antioxidant content on cultured human cancer cells, more specifically leukemia cells. The research, published by the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, showed very promising results with Acai extracts triggering a self destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested. However, as this study was based on a cell-culture model it did not prove that compounds found in Acai berries could prevent leukemia in people. Nonetheless the results were encouraging and could likely indicate a similar beneficial effect in the body, as such further research using healthy human subjects was instigated.

Since this initial study in 2006, Talcott has returned to where he began his education at Texas A & M University to become an Assistant Professor and complete the first ever human consumption trial of Acai juice and Acai pulp. While the earlier published study indicated that the antioxidant content in the Acai Berry was related to the destruction of cultured human cancer cells, this second study by Talcott and colleagues looks at the ability of the human body to absorb the antioxidant properties of the Acai Berry when consumed. The publication date for this current Acai study has not yet been released but Talcott has provided a preview of the abstract on the Texas A&M University website.

The study was conducted using twelve healthy volunteers in which Acai berry pulp and clarified Acai juice was compared to a non-antioxidant drink and applesauce controls. The antioxidant capacity in plasma and urine was repeatedly sampled over 12 hours and 24 hours post consumption respectively as an indicator of absorption.

Results showed plasma antioxidant capacity was significantly increased by Acai pulp. Individual increases in plasma antioxidant capacity were also found for both Acai juice and Acai pulp. These results demonstrate the ability of the human body to absorb the antioxidant properties of Acai when consumed.

Anticipation awaits the publication by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and the greater elaboration of the results found by Talcott and his colleagues. However, this sneak peak provides evidence in favour of the benefits of the Acai Berry and its possible cancer destroying properties!

Learn more about Acai benefits and research Acai Berry Info. Get the latest on Monavie, Sambazon, Acai Plus, Purple and other acai products. Features videos, news and discussion.


Related Tags: acai, acai juice, acai berry, acai fruit, acai pulp, acai study, acai berry research, acai research

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